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RECOLLECTIONS OF BLACKSHEAR FROM 
1857 TO 1913-14 

(By Miss Nellie Stewart) 

For years I have carried about in my heart the desire to write a history 
of my dear old home town, Bhickshear, Pierce county, Georgia. Its memories 
are precious to me, and there is perhaps no one now living whose recollections 
of the past are as clear and keen as my own. 

I will begin my story with the biography of my maternal grandfather, 
James Strickland and hi^s family. They came to Blackshear from Wayne 
county, Georgia in 1831. James Strickland bought from Banner Thomas, all 
the land on the west side of the branch, and one corner on the site now occupied 
by Davis & Son's store on the east side of the branch. The land on the east side 
was surveved in 1840 bv William Brown, grandfather of Dr. W. N. Brown. 

In 1841 Mr. John t. Clough bought it from the State of Georgia. In 1847 
he sold it to Mr. Asberry Waldron, father of Mr. Moses Waldron. Then my 
uncle, Joel Strickland, bought it in 1855. In 1857 he sold it to his brother, 
Mr. Allen Strickland, the father of Mr. J. W. Strickland, now of Waycross, 
and of Mrs. A. N. Smith, of Homerville, (xa. 

My grandfather and uncles were the first owners of Blacksliear. My grand- 
father, James Strickland, had ten children. Nine of them had families of 
children and grandchildren. One, a girl named Mary Ann, died when about 
1-2 years old. Most of their descendants have lived in Blackshear, also many 
{,f the descendants of the brothers and sisters of my grandfather and grand- 
mother, and numy of them live there now. 

My grandparents on the maternal side came to Wayne county, Georgia, 
from South Carolina in 1804. Thej'' lived near Gardi, Ga. at first, and had 
plenty of Indians for neighbors. These Indians were Creeks and at that time 
were friendly to the "white man." However, they would steal horses from tlie 
white settlers then living on the Wayne side of the Altamaha river. My 
grandmother played with the little Indians when she was a child and she 
learned to count from them, their numerals to 10. Here they are: 

1, Umkin; 2, Ocolin; 3, Techainin; 4, Osten: 5, Chocapin; 6, Epocin; 7, 
Colipocin; 8, Chilipocin: 9, Ostipocin; 10, Parlin. 

First among the old families of Pierce county, I will mention Mr. Oliver 
Waldron and family. Oliver Waldron was the grandfather of Moses Wal- 
dron. He lived where Mrs. Edith Bennett now lives, two miles from Black- 
shear towards Shiloh. This is my old home, where I was reared. My father 
bought it in 1848 from Mr. George Davis. 

Among the other old families of Pierce county, were those of T^anner and 
Lewis Thomas, James and William Riggins, Rev. Reuben Crawford and his 
brothers, John, Ezekiel. Thomas and (iideon Crawford; Joseph Winn, John 
O'Berry. Ben James, Elijah xVspinwall, William Brown and the Dixon broth- 
ers. Nathan, William, James and Mathew ; Mr. George Newborn, Capt. James 
Sweat, Berry Henderson, William Gainey, W. Lugg. John Osteeu, AVilliam 
Turner, William Tippins and the Younums and Howard families. The father 
of Capt. Dan Knowles was an old settler of the county. Mr. Washington 
Kuowles. Henry Stone, Henry Tatem, Levi Strickland and George Hall, and 
their families were among the old settlers. 

Among the churches of Pierce county, Shiloh is the oldest one so far as I 
have any knowledge. Shiloh was organized about 1830-31. Some years ago I 
saw the names of the original members: among them were the Gaineys, the 
Waldi-ons and many of the families I have mentioned. 

My grandfather and mother joined at Shiloh after they moved to Black 
shear, as there was no Methodist church any nearer to them than at AVares- 
boro. Ware county. After awhile my grandfather persuaded his mother to 
join that church also. 

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The Newborns, the Sweats and the Hendersons were Methodists and they 
decided, several years after Shiloh was established, to organize a Methodist 
church. This they did at the Henderson place about 1834-35. The church has 
long been disbanded and the building gone to decay, but the cemetery remains 
and is still used. My sister Katie, and her last husband, are buried there with 
others of my kindred. It is about twelve miles from Blackshear. 

The first person buried at Shiloh was buried in a bought coffin (I have 
forgotten his name), but he bought his coffin before he died. 

The first pastor was Lewis Peacock. I am sure he was related to the 
Peacocks in Blackshear. The next pastor was Reuben Crawford. He was 
from Effingham county. He was pastor 52 years and died in 1887. His wife 
died the same j^ear. He was a man of great natural ability and force of char- 
acter, and held his church without a break in its ranks for over a half century. 
His home was about five miles from Blackshear. 

The young folks of Pierce county today have no idea how it used to be in 
the past. There were no railroads to bring mail every day and no mail car- 
riers all over the country to bring it to your door. Nothing like that. I can 
remember when people didn't get their mail but once in two or three weeks. 
Then it was carried by a mail rider, as he was called. Mr. J. J. Henderson, 
who was afterward my brother-in-law, used to carry the mail when he was 
a right young man. 

In the fall and winter the farmers would take their carts and wagons and 
go to Savannah or Darien, or some other town, and get their flour, coffee, rice, 
cloth, shoes, tobacco, etc., sufficient to last them until the next fall or winter. 

I remember hearing my mother say that her father had gone to town in 
November, 1833, when the great shower of meteors fell, and that the home 
folks were grinding cane, and as they had to get up away before day to get a 
boiler of juice ready, they saw the shower. The first one to see the meteors 
'vas a colored woman, Maria, afterward the mother of Noah Lane. She was 
badly frightened and rushed to the big house calling to my grandmother, 
''Oh, 'Mistis, Mistis, the world's coming to an end! The stars are falling." 
My grandmother was not easily excited ,so she reprimanded Maria and bade 
her stop such a clamor and return to her work. But when she came out and 
saw the awe-inspiring sight she too believed the end had come. She assembled 
her children and the slaves in the big open yard and together they awaited the 
final crack of doom. After the sun came up and the stars disappeared they 
were not reassured but went about all day in a kind of daze, waiting for some- 
thing worse to happen. Not one of them ever expected to see anotiier star. 

They used wooden rollers in their cane mills in those daj^s, and it was 
necessary to take the cane stalks through them twice. They continued in use 
until after the war, when steel rollers were gradually adopted. Mr. B. D. 
Brantley, Sr., installed the first modern steel rollers, and a big evaporator at 
the old Sessions place, where Mr. Wylie now lives. 

My mother M-as my grandfather'*s eldest child and as such had the privilege 
of a trip to Darien in February, 1834, with her uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. 
Joseph Hj'ers. They camped out the night of the 13th, and the next mornin<r, 
Valentine's Day, her aunt made a fortune-test for her, and told her that she 
would be married before the year was out. My mother did not believe it, in- 
asmuch as she was only IG years old and had not met the man she Avas to marry. 
But it came true, for she met and married my father, Elias Stewart, in October 
of that year. 

After living several years in other places, mv father bought the place 
where Mrs. Edith Bennett now lives, in 1849. He put up a store building 
on the public road about 200 yards from the home, and there kept a stock of 
general merchandise. There was an old store building on the place which 
Avent to prove that former owners of the place had done business there. Jus- 
tice court was held there, and Superior court at Waresboro, until 1858. 

My father bought his dry goods and drugs from Savannah. In the fall 
of 1854, he went to Savannah to buy a stock of goods to be sent to Florida. 

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He intended putting up a store there, m Columbia county, near his sisters 
home, and my eldest brother was going to keep it. But on account ot not 
o-ctting mail much in those days, when he got to Savannah, he found out, what 
he had not knoAvn before, that thev had yellow fever there. He did not stay to 
buy goods, but came away at onci\ But he was there long enough to get the 
contagion, and was taken sick before he reached home. He died in about a 
week afterward of yellow fever. 

After his death, my mother, her brother Joel, and cousin J. A. Harper, 
kept the store on our place, until uncle Joel inoNcd to Clinch couniy. 

I am coming to the time now when Bhickshear was started. It was in the 
year 1857. 

Dr. James Screven, of Savannah, and others organized the old xVtlantic & 
Gulf Railroad from Savannah to Thomasville. Then they began to survey it. 
Capt. Joseph Stone. broUier of Mis. A. IL Moore. Sr., Mr. E. S. Law, of Sa- 
vannah; Mr. Edgar Herriott. and Mr. Maxwell, of the same phice, were some 
of the civil encineers. Dr. Screven was the president. 

As my mother's home was not very far from the line, they used to stay 
at our house. We lived on the public road, and not far from the railroad. 

Some of the citizens said they would not give any right-of-way, and gave 
as a reason, that it Avould ruin the country, and kill up all the stock. But in 
spite of tlieir opposition, in the winter of 1857, the road was being graded 
near the Alabaha river. 

The first boss in charge of the grading to the river was Mr. MacDonald, 
of Ware county. After liim came Mr. Joseph Allen. They worked Irishmen 
in digging cuts, in those days, many of them were raw emigrant-, and it was a 
show io the country people to see and hear tliem talk. I have heard that it 
took five hundred men to dig out the cut by the river. Of course they used 
hand sho^els. as steam shovels were unknown in that day. 

The next boss after Mr. Allen was Mr. Billups, who was by this time 
across the river. The next bosses were INIessrs. Hardee and Brown. They 
worked negroes after finishing the cut at Blackshear. 

Chrisinias day, 1857, all the n:en in tlie whole neighlxu'hood met at the 
old store, for the last time, and went to Avhere Blackshear now is, to survey, lay 
out and prepare for the new county of Pierce, and the town of Blackshear. 

Pierce county was named in honor of President Franklin Pierce, Demo- 
cratc, who served his count ly from 1853 to 1857. 

Blackshear was named after General David Blackshear who was so in- 
trepid in defending the state from the depredations of the Indians. Gen. 
Blr"ckshear was closely associated with Col. Benjamin Hawkins, patriot, sol- 
dier. United States Senator and Indian agent, who was born in 1754. 

My sister Katie, and her husband. Mr. Franklin Knox, from W;n'no 
county, the parents of Mr. John Knox, were at our home that day. My uncles, 
Newton Stewart, Allen Strickland, MathcAv Aspinwall; my brother, James 
Stewart, and mj'^ cousins, James Harper and James Sweat, together with Dr. 
Allen BroAvn and Mr. James Brown, were those v.ho went (o Blackshear that 
day to lay out the town. 

In 1858 the old stage coach was still running in Pierce county. Our 
home wr.s one nf the stations Avliere they kept the horses and part of the road 
was the road in front of Mrs. Howard's, a'ong the old Experiment Farm under 
the pines. The driver's name was Mr. Greelev, and the hosiler's name was Mr. 
Nourse. Tliey Mere both from the North. 

By 1859 the train was running through to Tebeauville, the name of the 

!dest part of Waycross. Mrs. Junker, mother of OrAille and other children, 

;M!d the sister of ISIrs. J. H. Bedding, says that parokeets were to be seen at 

that time in th.e swamps, known then as "Tebeau Branch," dividing the two 

Mictions of AVa3'cross and now drained by the canal. 

I think that n\v Uncle. James B. Strickland, familiarly known as "Jim 
r.i'ck."' the fath.er of Mr--. .\ leek McMillan, Mrs. Bobert Biggins, ISfrs. Spraffue, 
of Phi))sbr!rg. Ma'ne, and J. A. and A. J. Strickland, was the tirst to move to 

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Blackshear from Ware count}'. He had a store built right Avhere his sons and 
Ratlitf & Son now conduct their's. His sons, John A. and Alonzo J., have 
kept the high business standard set by their father. John A. is a man of fine 
social and business qualities and like his father, is a man of many friends. A. 
J. is more conspicious for his work in the church and Methodist Sunday t'chool, 
he being superintendent of the latter for about ten j'ears, and bringing it into 
a splendid organization.. 

Mr. Jasper Eeeves, from Doctortown, father of J. M. Reeves, kept the 
first store ever run in Blackshear. 

In the fall my mother and cousin. James Harper, who had moved in from 
the country, went into business with Uncle James Strickland. Cousin James 
Harper was the father of Mr. Joseph A. Harper, who was county school com- 
missioner of Pierce for so man}^ years after the war. 

In December, 1858, Mr. B. D. Brantley and wife moved in from Wares- 
■ boro, Ware county. They were a young couple just starling out in life. Mr. 
Brantley was descended from tAvo Revolutionary heroes, one, his maternal 
grandfather, Benjamin Daniel, Avho fought all through the war and was given 
a land grant of 28iyo acres on Buckeye Creek in Washington couniy, in recog- 
nition of his services; and the other, Benjamin Brantley, who fought under 
General Nathaniel Green. His wife, who Avas Miss Jeannett McRae, of Mont- 
gomery county, was descended from Scottish Highlanders, her father having 
been born in Scotland, and her mother born of Scottish parents soon after they 
emigrated to this count r}'. 

Mr. Brantley came to Blackshear before he brought his wife, and built her 
a log cabin, consisting of two rooms and a piazza, on the site of the preent 
family homestead. It is part of the Hon. W. G. Brantley's political record 
that he was born in a log cabin. 

Mr. Brantley put up a store and went into the business of merchandising, 
the firm name being Brantley & Douglas. 

The first hotel in Blackshear was where the fire engine house now stands, 
or about where the little building in which for so many years Capt. John C. 
Nicholls had his hiAv office. Later it was the office of Dr. Magruder Brown, 
and still later a shoe shop. Now it is torn down. Originally it was a store 
built bv Mr. Sifley. 

This hotel was first kept by m.y cousin, William Sweat, an older brother 
of Col. J. L. Sweat, of Waycross. His mother, Avhose second husband Avas 
A. W. Davis, the man Avho built the first courthouse, by contract, and most of 
the first stores, noA\- moved in on Avhat is now knoAvn as AVare street. 

Mr. SAveat did not keep the hotel very long after this. Then Mr. Thomas 
Youmans kept it a little Avhile. After he gave it up his brother, Charles You- 
mans, kept it. After this a Mr. and Mrs. Sifley moved in from Liberty county 
and kept the hotel as long as they lived in Blackshear, several years after .the 
Avar. 

In 18.59 several more families moved to Blackshear. Dr. a^d Mrs. Moore 
and Dr. Moore's little girl Ella: Mr. John M. Jenkins and his wife and son 
Johnny: his bi-other and sister, RoAvan and Mary Jenkins. Johnny Jenkins 
Avas his son by a former marriage. He and his s-econd Avife Avere the parents 
of Mrs. Mollie D'Auverne and Mr. RoAvan Jenkins, not livinff, and Mrs. Wil- 
liam Davis. 

In those days they Avere the wealthy people of Blackshear. They had slaves 
and carriages and fine clothes. Mr. Jerikins Avas a brids-e builder."^ He settled 
the place where Mr. D. H. Burny noAv lives, and tliis ho7ise is the oldest one in 
Blackshear. After the death of John M. Jenkins his Avidow married RoAvan 
Jenkms and they Avere the ])arents of several childi-en : J. Mank, and Emma, 
Bertha, Sam and Marion. Mrs. Jenkins Avas a verv beautiful Avouvin. Mis-; 
Mary Jenkins became the second v.ife of J. B. Strickland and Avas the mother 
of J. A. and A. J. Strickland. 

The next family to move in Avas that of the Rev. Benjamin Blitch. He 
was the uncle of Mr. William Davis, and he lived where Mr. Davis lives noAv. 

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At one time, long aftenYard, this place was owned by Mr. John Ray, who was 
killed in the hurricane wreck of 1888. 

liev. Elitch was a Missionary Baptist preacher and his eldest son James, 
was also a preacher of that denomination. There were thirtN.«en children in 
the family. 

Mr. H. W. Grady, of North Carolina, came to Blackshear in the early 
part of 1859 and in januiiry, 1860 he married my sister Maria. Their first 
home was in Blackshear where Mr. John Taylor now lives. They were the 
parents of J. L. and H. W. Grady, and three daughters, Gertrude, Florence 
and Fann^^ 

J. L. Grady is closely identified with Blackshear, not only by birth and a 
long residence there, but by his devotion to his church and all forms of re- 
lisrious work. He was the" founder of Oak Grove Church and its Sunday 
School. 

Other families to come in 1859 were those of Col. John T. Wilson and his 
brother-in-law, Mr. Joseph Steele. Then Rev. Wylie Knight, a Baptist 
preacher, and his family came and another Missionary Baptist, Rev. David 
Milton and family. He^vas the uncle of Mr. Jcptha Milton. Mr. Buchanan, 
father of Rev. "^ C. C. Buchanan, of Waycross, moved in at this time. 
He died during the war and was buried at Shiloh. Mr. Wm. (loethe, father 
of Dr. James and George Goethe and of Mrs. Whiteford, came this year. He 
had the first saw mill at Blackshear. 

Capt. E. D. Henry and family moved to Blackshear from Savannah this 
3'ear. His wife was a lady of great refinement and charm of manner. They 
were the parents of Robert Hendry, who died in 1870. and ot Mrs. J. W^ 
Strickland, of Waycross; Mrs. J. N. Davis, of Jesup, and Mrs. John A. Strick- 
land, of Blackshear. 

Mrs. Hendry's parents, Mr. George Staley and his wife Eliza, lived with 
them. Mrs. Staley was devoted to her church and her Christian virtues made 
her life as beautiful as the flowers she loved and cared for so avoU. 

The Hendry's lived awhile in the country on a phice known as the Dc- 
lannoy place. Mr. Staley died there. Then the}^ moved in town, and had a 
prett3% flower-embowered home, the site of which is now occupied by the home 
of Mr. and Mrs. J. Alonzo Strickland. But their first home in i31ackshear 
was on the hill, where Mr. Wylie now lives. The trees and flowers they 
planted there made it a place of beaut3\ Captain Hendry built the first home 
there. 

Another family to come about this time was that of Mr. and j\Irs. Jolin 
S. Stephens. They were the mother and step-father of Sarah Jane and Char- 
lotte Jones. The former married Mr. James Brown and they were the parents 
of Zee, wife of Hon. J. I. Summerall, and of Dr. W. N. Brown. Charlotte 
married Mr. Griner. 

Another family of this time Avas ^Mr. and ISIrs. Charles Raybon, parents of 
Mr. Wm. Raybon, of Waycross. and grandparents of Mr. Ira Raybon, of 
Jesup. They were the parents of two daughters, Lou. who married Mr. Her- 
rin. of Wayne county, and Margaret, who married Charlie Moore of Bruns- 
wick. 

Mr. John Minchew and family and his son Ben Minchew and family, 
came about this time. Also Mr. George Waldron and family, and a widow, 
Mrs. (). C. Woodward. iMso the families of Eadj', Peacock, Odum, Godwin 
and Byron. 

The old Atlantic & Gulf, later the Plant System, and now the Atlantic 
Coast Line, begr.n running through Blackshear to Tebeauville, or "Old Nine," 
as Waycross Avas known then, in 1859. When the first passenger train went 
through the railroad gave everybod}'^ from Blackshear Avho Avanted to go, a 
free ride. That was a big day. Many took advantage of the opportunity, 
among them m}' sister Maria, with her cousins. Dr. James SAveat and his sis- 
ter Nancy. 

It Avas a thrilling experience and one long to be remembered. One little 

7 



^irl was so frightened on seeing the train for the first time that she fainted. 
Another threw a fit from the same cause and everyone was filled with excite- 
ment. Mrs. B. D. Bradley, Sr., used to tell a story of one man who came in 
from the country to see the train. He knew his mule would be afraid, so he 
hitched him a mile out of town and harnessed himself to the cart. But when 
he saw the train come thundering in, he was as bad as the mule could possibly 
have been, for he ran away, cart and all. 

One of my grandmother's little negroes, Edmund, brother of Lisbon Lane, 
was hunting the calves in the woods near the railroad when he heard the first 
train. To his startled imagination it seemed to be coming in a straight line 
for him. Terror lent wings to his bare feet and he flew home, vaulted the 
fence and dashed into the house and hid under the bed. When dragged out 
and questioned as to what was the matter, he stuttered, "Sumpin awful — de 
debble, I reckin, was ater me! — But I out-run it!" 

They had preaching for the first time in the old court house, down stairs, 
in 1859. The first man who took pictures did so up stairs in the court house. 
He made daguerreotypes. 

The first shows we ever had in Blackshear came in 1859. The initial one 
was a woman ventriloquist. In the fall of '59 old John Robinson's 40-horse 
team came through the country. That was a great event, as it was the very 
first of its kind. 

The first Sunday Scvhool was organized January 29, 1860. The first 
barbecue and public speaking was in ISGO. Uncle Allen Strickland gave it. 
Col., afterwards Gen. Francis S. Bartow, who was killed in the first battle of 
Manassas, in 18G1, was the speaker of the day. It was a political speech in 
favor of secession. This speech aroused great feeling and enthusiasm among 
the men and women. It was a sweeping victory for secession. General Bar- 
tow said, on going to the war, "I go to illustrate Georgia." He truly repre- 
sented the State. That day, the first preaching, the first Sunday School, and 
the circus, were the biggest days of my childhood — especially the first Sunday 
School celebration. 

One other big day was when I heard a Missionary Baptist preacher at an 
Association, between Blackshear and the Alabaha River, in the fall of 1857. 
Another day, full of deep feeling for me, was in the summer of 1858, when I 
heard my brother James preach at a school house. I was ten j^ears old and all 
the preaching I had heard up to that time was at Shiloh. 

Uncle Allen Strickland and his wife were Methodists and they sometimes 
had preaching at their home, but I never remember going there to church. 

My brother was a young licensed preacher and was not at home much. 
He was junior preacher at Key West, Florida, in 1859. He was also an M. D., 
and a scientist. He was a great believer in the new science of phrenology, and 
he gave lectures in Blackshear on that subject. In August, 1861, he went off 
to the war and he died in October, 1862. 

In the summer of 1861, Rev. Daniel Morrison, father of Rev. H. R. Mor- 
rison, moved to Blackshear and several more families, from Brunswick and 
other places. Among them Rev. L. H. Greenleaf, his wife and her sister. Miss 
Mary Campbell. They were Northern people, but they cast in their lot with 
the Southern side. Mrs. Greenleaf and sister were of Scottish descent, and 
were highly intellectual and refined. Mr. Greenleaf was a man of great recti- 
tude of character, and the family exerted a pronounced moral influence on the 
town. Miss Mary Campbell taught the school in Blackshear in the years 
1863-64, and part of 1865. After the war she married our beloved R. B. Rep- 
jiard, but she is now a widow, living in Savannah with her daughter, Mrs. 
David Carson. 

Mr. II. B. Robinson and family came from Brunswick about this time, and 
(he families of Carter and Greenfield. 

Others who came then and during the war were Col. Hopkins and fam- 
ily, his son-in-law, Capt. Holland and family, and his sister, Mrs. Day. The 
Hopkins family lived on the hill at the place where Mr. Wylie lives now. The 

8 



Holland family lived across the railroad in a house that stood on the site now 
occupied by the Oil Mill of Black.shear Manufacturing Co. Mrs. Day and her 
son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Day, and another son, Mulvey 
Day, lived where Mr. J. Mason Purdon now lives. In 1882 or -83 this house 
was torn down and a new one erected by Mr. W. (J. Brantley who was married 
in 18S3 to Miss Jessie Kate Westbrook. It was built by Billie Brown, who 
was killed in Mr. B. D. Brantley's gin some time afterward. 

Colonel O'Brian and family came to town and built a house where the 
home of Mr. Ben Brantley, Jr.,' now stands. After they left Blackshear my 
brother-in-law. Col. G. M.T. Ware, bought the place, after the war, and lived 
there until his house was burned. Their daughter Kate, now Mrs. Wood, was 
born there. Colonel P'oster Memory, whose mother was Miss Hester Brantley, 
was born at this place also, in a cottage erected after Colonel Ware's house was 
I)urned. Dr. (looge and family and his mother-in-law, Mrs. Butler and son, 
James Butler, from Savannah, settled the place Avhere the courthouse stands. 

Dr. Silas Overstreet settled the place where Mr. Walter Meeks now lives. 
He built a dam across the Baxley Branch. The Overstreets were wealthy 
people in those days. Dr. Overstreet's wife was Miss Baggs, of Liberty 
county. 

ISIr. Greenleaf lived first on Ware street. Then he built the place where 
Mr. E. Z. Byrd lives and lived there until his death. 

Mr. and Mrs. Elias Whilden came to Blackshear in 18G1. Mr. and Mrs. 
Miller and family, INIr. and Mrs. Lester and family, from Savannah, and Capt. 
and Mrs. King, were about all the families that were living in Blackshear at 
the close of the war in 1865. 

The first Methodist church was organized in 1859 or 'GO. The pastor of 
the Waresboro Circuit, who lived in Waresboro, preached in the first court- 
liouso that was built. His name was Henderson. In 18G0 he was still pastor 
and Brother Jackson was Presiding Elder. 

They were carrying on a revival when Mary A. Harper, now wife of C. 
C. Buchanan, was converted. She was at the altar shouting, when her father, 
who disa])proved of it, came up to take hor out and cany her home., She 
threw her arms around his neck and cried, ''Oh, Father! I am so happy; Jesus 
has forgiven all my sins. Let me stay and shout His praise!" She clung to 
him, begging him to give his heart to God, until he was converted right there. 
After services he asked my sister and her husband, H. W. Grady, to go home 
with them and help him set up the family altar. As long as he lived, down 
to old age, he never neglected his family prayer. Mary has ever since been a 
consistent Christian, and with her husband. Rev. C. C. Buchanan, of Way- 
cross, has done great things for the Lord. 

Rev. Henderson was succeeded, I think, by Brother Thomas, or as he was 
lovingly called by every one, '•Uncle Thomas,'' of Waycross. Then his place 
was taken by Rev. John L. Williams, whose first wife was the aunt of Mrs. 
Mary McMillan, and of Mrs. J. O. Ward and Mrs. Kizzie Riggins. 

The next pastor was Rev. Isaac Mundin, who preached there in 1864. He 
died many years ago, but his wife survived him to four years ago. They left 
three sons, two of whom now live in Tampa, Florida. The next pastor was 
Rev. J. B. Maulding, and the presiding elder was Rev. X. B. Ousley. Rev. 
Daniel Morrison and Rev. Wm. McDonald were local preachers, and after 
this time awhile. Rev. McDonald organized the Congregational INIelhodist 
church. I remember his text the last time he ])reached in Blackshear. It was 
about Paul and Silas being bound in jail, and their feet in stocks. 

The first District Conference in Blackshear was held in 1869. I remember 
that on Saturday night it was a bad. rainy night, but it did not keep the people 
from going. Rev. Mr. Wylie preached, and this was his text: "It is sown a 
natural body; it is raised a spiritual body." The preacher who closed that 
night was Rev. O. L. Smith. He said that he was in Blackshear one day dur- 
ing the war while Col. Milieu's Brigade was there. He preached to the sol- 
diers, among whom was his son, who was a member of the brigade, and that it 

9 



was the last time he ever saw him. They were ordered to Virginia in a few 
days and his son Avas killed in one of the battles soon afterward. Before he 
finished ever3^one in the congregation was weeping. For long after the war if 
anything sad was told about the poor soldiers the people would shed tears. 

The Sunday's sermon was preached by Rev. C. H. Fullwood, from Bruns- 
wick. His text was: "I pray thee to have me excused." Brother Fullwood 
was transferred to the Florida Conference, and he died in the pulpit at an 
Annual Conference. 

I have no record or recollection of the preachers in Blackshear from 1865 
to 1871. But in 1871 Brother Mauldin was the Methodist pastor again. In 
1872 Rev. T. S. Armstead was pastor, but he transferred to the Florida Con- 
ference. These were the last preachers of the Waresboro Circuit to preach in 
Blackshear, although Brother McMichael lived there. 

In 1873 Rev. II. P. Myers preached in Blackshear and Waycross. He 
also, with his sister Miss Fanny Myers, conducted the Blackshear school. Miss 
Fanny afterward married Col. Simon W. Hitch. Her's was a beautiful life, 
devoted to good works. . She was a great church and missionary worker and 
her memor}'^ will live long in the hearts of the poor and needy, whom she re- 
lieved. 

In 1874 Rev. Howard Key, son of Bishop Key, was pastor in Blackshear 
and Waycross. In 1875 Rev. S. N. Tucker was pastor in Blackshear and 
Waycross. He came from the Baltimore Conference. 

Rev. H. P. Myers married Miss Rena Darling, of Blackshear. The father 
of Rev. H. P. Myers and INlrs. Hitch Avas a very prominent minister of the 
Methodist Conference. He Avas one of the presidents of Wesleyan College, in 
Macon, and in the chapel there a tablet is erected to his memory. 

In 1876 Rev. George C. Thompson was pastor in Blackshear and Way- 
cross. These preachers were young men and boarded in Blackshear. 

In 1877 Dr. Griffiths was pastor. A parsonage, the present one, Avas 
erected and for the first time the pastor had a parsenage in Avhich to Ha^c. Dr. 
Griffiths and his Avife were a young couple, and they had a baby born 
to them in the parsonage. It died and is buried in the cemetery by Mrs. More- 
house's baby, in the lot of Mr. A. N. Smith. Dr. Griffiths AAas an Englishman, 
splendidly educated, and after he left Blackshear he united Avith the Presby- 
terian church. The presiding elder. Rev. Wm. M. Hayes, lived in another 
house built about Avhere Dr. and Mrs. G. T. Hendrj^ noAv reside. He was also 
a soldier in Blackshear during the Avar, and Avas in Colonel Milieu's brigade. 

In 1878 Rev. J. W. Weston Avas pastor in Blackshear and AVaj'cross. 
About 1900 or 1901 he Avas the Presiding Elder of the Waycross District. 

The second District Conference in Blackshear Avas in April, 1873. Bishop 
Pierce and his father AAcre in attendance, and Dr. Pierce preached the Sunday 
sermon. His text Avas the 6th chapter of Galations: "Let him that is taught 
in the word communicate unto liim that teacheth in all good things." The 
third District Conference was either in 1876 or 1880. 

From 1879 to 1881 Bro. N. D. Morehouse Avas pastor in Blackshear, and I 
think, in Waycross, too. Their youngest child, little Annie, di^d Avith measles 
and is buried in Mr. A. N. Sniith's lot, in the Blackshear cemetery. Their 
eldest son, Ward, lives in Savannah. Willie and Eva are dead. Mattie is 
married and lives in or near Boston, Ga. Mrs. Morehouse is also living. 

In 1882-83 Rev. J. S. Jordon Avas pastor in Blackshear. He preached 
my mother's funeral in 1882. He also, June 6, 1883, performed the marriage 
ceremony of Hon. W. G. Brantley and ISIiss Jessie Kate Westbrook, in the old 
Methodist chui-ch at Waycross. Among the attendants at this Avedding Avere 
Mr. John C. McDonald, "of Waycross: Mr. T. L. Acosta, of Blackshear: Mr. 
Harry Phinizy, of Athens; ]\Ir. A. P. Brantley and Mr. B. D. P>rantley, Jr., of 
Blackshear. The young ladies Avere Miss Laura Dauo-hertv, of Griffin; Miss 
Carrie Hill, of Albany; Miss Virginia Williams, of AYaycross; Miss Dora 
Jossey and Miss Christian Brantley, of Blackshear. Waycross Avas the home 
of the bride. 

10 



In 1884-85 Rev. J. W. Flanders was pastor. He was an old man and was 
the father of J. W. Fhniders, pastor this jear, 1912, of the First Methodist 
church in Wavcroi^s. He was succeeded in 1886 by Hev. J. N. Hendry as 
pastor of Blackshear and Jesup. In 1887 Rev. Wm. J. Stallings was pastor. 
He is now dead and his Avidow lives in McRae, Ga. Kenneth, her second son, 
lives with her: Willie, the eldest, lives at Cochran, and Arnold, the youngest, 
teaches in the public school in Waycross. Brother Stallings was succeeded in 
1889-90 by Rev. A. E. Carraway. He and his wife were a young couple and 
their baby Pearl, is buried in the Hendry lot at the cemetery. 

In 1891 Rev. G. P. Parker was pastor in Blackshear. Six years later he 
was transferred to the Florida Conference. 

In 1892-94 Rev. M. F. Beals was pastor. After leaving here his son Winn, 
died, and later his daughter Daisy, a lovely Christian girl, died at the homo 
of her cousin, Mrs. E. L. Darling, in Blackshear. Mrs. Darling was neice of 
Mrs. Beals. During his ])ast()rate Mr. Beals performed the ceremony for a 
double wedding at the Methodist church, that of his neice. Miss Helen Bost- 
wick, and INIr. E. L. Darling; and Miss Eliza Belle Riggins and Mr. C. Leon 
Johnson. Mr. Beals' wife and children are buried in Savannah. 

In 1895-98 Rev. T. J. Peck was pastor. He died several years ago in Vir- 
ginia, his native State. 

In 1899 Rev. C. W. Littlejohn was pastor. 1900 found Rev. M. B. Farrell 
here. He is dead now. 

In 1901-02 Rev. C. M. Ledbetter was pastor. He spent some time digging 
for buried treasure he had been told of, but never succeeded in locating it. 

Rev. R. E. Bailev was pastor in 1903-04. Rev. J. W. Tinlev. in 1905-OG. 
In 1907 Rev. J. W\ McDonald was pastor. In 1871, when Mr. R. B. Reppard 
gave the church to Blackshear. Rev. McDonald dedicated it. He was a grand 
man who fulfilled the highest mission in life. He served his master with zeal 
for many, many years, and died in the harness. He refused to be superannu- 
ated, prefering to labor until the last. He died in Savannah in 1910. His two 
sons were missionaries. The eldest went to Mexico, where he died. The 
youngest went to Cuba from the Florida Conference. The daughter m.arried 
Rev. G. W. Mathews, one of the great preachers of the South Georgia Con- 
ference. I heard Brother McDonald say, about two years before his death, 
that if he could only have back ten years of his life he would be a missionary, 
too. 

In 1908-09-10 Rev. B. F. Lawhern w\as pastor of the Blackshear church 
and Rev. Silas Johnson of the Blackshear Circuit and Screven church. 

In 1911-12 Rev. W. P. Blevens was pastor. It was during his pastorate 
that the steps were taken to purchase the Presbyterial Institute from its cred- 
itors, and transfer it to the charge of the Methodist Conference. 

In 1913 Rev. W. A. Brooks was pasor of the Blackshear church and Rev. 
E. M. Sanders was pastor of the Blackshear Circuit, preaching at Ward's 
Chapel and at Oak Grove. 

1914 finds Rev. W. A. Brooks pastor at Blackshear and Rev. Huggins 
pastor of the Blackshear circuit; Rev. A. J. ISIoore, Conference Evangelist of 
Ihe Waycross District, and living in Blackshear, and Rev. W. H. Huckabee 
field agent for the Pierce Institute, living near the school in a home of his own, 
as does also Rev. A. J. Moore. 

The school has finished with credit its first year as a Methodist institution. 
A handsome new brick church now occupies the site of the old white painted 
one of the past. A new parsonage is forthcoming and never in the history of 
the Methodist church in Blackshear has it accomplished so much as in the 
years of 1912-13 and '14. I hope and pray that everybody who is not already 
a member of some church will join this 3'ear and that dear old Blackshear will 
improve more and more. 

As the Presbyterian and Baptist churches were not organized until some 
time in the seventies, I will take up the Sunday School and Day School in 
Blackshear. 

11 



The first Sunday School was organized January 29, 1860, with the fol- 
lowing officers and teachers: Rev. David Milton, superintendent; Mr. H, W. 
Grady, secretary. Teachers, Mr. Joseph H. Steele, Mrs. O. C. AVoodward, 
Mrs. A. M. Moore, Rev. James Blitch and Mrs. O. A. Sifley. 

Class No. 1 : John M. Jenkins, Joseph A. Harper, Daniel Blitch, Hiram 
Peacock, Solomon Blitch, Colquitt Stewart, J. W. Strickland, Mrs. J. H. 
Steele, Mrs. Eliza Strickland, Miss Esther Blitch, JNIiss Elizabeth Blitch, Miss 
Dora Blitch. 

Class No. 2: Miss Mary Jenkins, Miss Mary A. Harper, Miss Nancy 
Sweat, Miss Susie Brewton, Misses Elizabeth Harper, Elinor Stewart, Isabel 
Stewart, Elizabeth Strickland, Mary Strickland, Kizzie Strickland, Martha 
Whilden, Mary Peacock, Sallie Godwin, Dollie Byron, Robert Plendry, Mor- 
gan Sweat. 

Class No. 3 : Misses Lou Raybon, Margaret Raybon, Julia Wilson, Sid- 
ney Howard, Evelyn Peacock. Valeria Odum, Elisabeth Eady, Priscilla Min- 
chew, Joseph Wilson, Luke Wilson, James Harper, Thomas L. Strickland, 
Keightley Stewart, William Raybon, Keightley Harper, Leander Blitch, Wili- 
ford Blitch, Doc. Buchanan, Marshall Milton and Henry Steele. 

Class No. 4: Misses Florida A. Buchanan, Janie Buchanan, Alice Sifley, 
Annie Crosby Grady, Emma Blitch, Nancy Strickland, Joseph Steele, Tarle- 
tan Knight, Charles Knight, Warren Cribb, A. Godwin, J. u-odwin and S. 
Godwin. 

Class No. 5: Dr. A. M. Moore, Dr. James Sweat, Rev. V^vlie Knight, 
Mitchell Sweat, Bradford Sweat, Brooker Thomas, B. B. WilJon and Mr. 
Wells. 

The first day of Maj"-, 1860, was a big day in the history of Blackshear and 
the county. It was the first Sundaj^ School Celebration. I will describe it as 
well as I can remember it : 

All the School had to meet at the courthouse and form in double file and 
march down town and back again to the courthouse, where the exercises of the 
day were held. The School had to dress in uniform, the ladies and girls wore 
white dresses and pink or blue sashes. The sashes Avere crossed over the right 
shoulder and tied at the left side with sash ends. The men wore white trousers 
and black coats. 

Col, (j. M. T. Ware, from North Georgia, and Dr. A. M. Moore, were the 
speakers of the da}'. The superintendent conducted the religious services. A 
bounteous dinner was spread outside on long tables. The" ladies vied with 
each other in the delectable things prepared. The thing which appealed to old 
and young alike was the big barrel of lemonade. It was something new to 
most of them, as it was the first season the merchants had ever been able to 
get lemons from Florida or elsewhere. All the people from the country for 
three or four miles, came and all enjo^-ed a good time. 

As everyone knoAvs, 1860 was a remarkable year, as it was the presidential 
election year, and three great political parties Avere struggling for supremacy 
— the Wliigs, the Democrats and the Republicans. The lalter'were in favor o'f 
abolition, the Democrats of secession aud the Whigs of the Union. The Whig 
candidates Avere Bell and Everett; the Democrats Avere Breckenridge and 
Lane, and the Republicans Avere Lincoln and Hamlin. EA'eryone knows the 
result of the election and the eA'ents that folloAved. Great excitement pre- 
vailed throughout the country and the little toAvn of Blackshear Avas aroused 
to a high pitch. War was inmiinent, and the fall of Fort Su.mter Avas the first 
moA'e in that direction. Wlien Avar Avas declared the men began forming coui- 
panies to be in readiness. Capt. E, D. Heudry got up a company of cavalry in 
Blackshear and numy joined it. Mr. J. W. Stephens was first lieuteuant, but 
T have forgotten Avho avps the second lieutenant ( r any of the other oflicers. 

Uncle Allen Strickland also got up a company of cavalry. Mr. Alex- 
ander McMillan Avas first lieutenant, and Col. G. M.'T. Ware Avas "second lieu- 
tenant. Before these tAvo companies went off into service, they did all their 
drilling at my mother's place, in the Old Pine Sappling thicket. They Avere 

12 



iiicoipomtod in the Fourth Gerroia Cr.valiT under Colonel Clinch, and sta- 
tioned at Screven, Ga. 

Every man in the Sunday School went off to war except Bradford Sweat, 
who had a crippled foot which exempted him. 

Rev. David Milton, Mr. H. W. Grady, my two brothers, James and Col- 
quitt, and my brother-in-law, Franklin Knox, enlislcd in the Savannah Vol- 
unteer Guards in Auoust, 18(>1, for a term of six months. Dr. James Sweat, 
Mitchell Sweat, Joseph A. Harper, J. J. Henderson and others I do not 
recall, enlisted in the 2Gth Geor<;ia Eegiment. at Waynesville. 

Mr. B. D. Brantley, old Brother Ben Blitch, C. C. Buchanan, Simeon 
^\niite and a few other men, who were living!: in Blackshear, went off to the 
war in July of that year. The school boys of Blackshear were terribly wor- 
ried for fear the war would be over before they got old enough to go. But 
many of them got tlie chance, among others J. W. Strickland and J. L. Sweat. 

I have no record of the Sunday School during the war, and I do not 
remember going, so I think it Avas suspended for lack of officers. 

But, going back to the day school, I find that Miss Mary Campbell taught 
it in 1862-63 and "64. She was a good teacher and all her pupils loved her. 
She organized a knitting school, which met on Saturdays at the old Academy. 
It was a two-story building and stood next to the present Methodist parson- 
age, on land donated for the purpose by Mr. B. D. r>rantley. The girls who 
could not knit were taught to do so, and the day passed in knitting socks for 
the soldiers. The Northern factories were closed to us then, so the socks for 
the soldiers must be knit at home. Miss Mary could knit so fast that her 
needles tvrinkled. None of the pupils ever reached her proficiency, though 
nmny pairs of socks were knitted in the effort to do so. 

Before going further I must tell the early histor}^ of the school in Black- 
shear. In 1859 "the first school was opened in the courthouse, taught b}' Mr. 
^^''ells. In 1860 the school was in charge of Colonel Ware. In 1861 ^Mr. Jack 
Jenkins was in charge, and after that Miss Campl;ell until 1865, when Mr. 
Greenleaf was back and he became the principal, with her as assistant. 

Dr. Sweat was in service on St. Simon's Island, and in February, 1862 
he died there. His bodj' was brought back to Shiloh cemetery and buried 
there. 

In the spring of 1862, when their six months' term of service was out on 
Green Island, my brothers and brothers-in-hnv came home. They staid only 
long enough for mother to make up plenty of underwear for them, when both 
brothers and one br()ther-in-law, Franklin Knox, enlisted in the 26th Georgia 
Regiment, Captain Knox "s compan}'. Mr. Grad}^, the otlier brother-in-law, 
enlisted in the 7th Batt. Ga. Cavalry. Capt. T. S. Hopkins, Major Comd., 
E. C. Anderson. In two or three weeks the 26th was ordered to Virginia 
where it became a part of the famous "Gordon's Brigade." It was in all the 
great battles of Northern Virginia and won laurels for its undaunted bravery. 

June 30, 1862, Franklin Knox died from the effects of a long march which 
caused him to have typhoid fever. He died in the hospital at Lynchburg, 
Virginia. 

From the hard life and exposure, my brother James, took opthalmia, 
vrhich unfitted him for hard service, so he was put in the Secret Service De- 
partment, and given a furlough to come home and recuperate. He remained 
at home that summer and recovered his sight, but in the early fall of '62 he 
undertook a difiicult mission for the departm.ent in the discharge of which he 
lost his life. He was buried at Fernandina, Florida. 

Uncle Allen Strickland died in December, 1862. Then Lieutenant ISIc- 
Millan Avas made captain of his company. 

In April, 1863, several of the Blackshear soldiers were home on furloughs, 
and the town wished to do something in their honor, so Mr. Sifllev. the hotel 
keeper, gave them a big ball and invited nearly everybody' in Bhickshear and 
the surrounding country. The house was decorated with bamboo and other 
green things from the branch and the table was garlanded with arbor vitea and 

13 



roses. 

Among those in attendance were Capt. E. D. Hendry, his wife and two 
children, Robert and Annie, now Mrs. J. W. Strickland ; Miss Sallie Waite, a 
young lady visiting them from Savannah, was there. Others were Lieut. J. 
"W. Stephens, wife and daughters. Col. Hopkins and family, Mr, and Mrs, 
John M. Jenkins, Uncle James Strickland and family, Mr, and Mrs, Eobinson 
and family, Mrs, Holland, daughter of Col, Hopkins, and the Misses Mary and 
Elizabeth Harper, There were Mrs, Allen Brown and sister. Miss Florida 
Eoberts and her sisters-in-law, the Misses Sophronia and Julia Brown, and 
my two sisters, Mrs, Knox and Mrs, Grady Vv^th Mrs. Grady's baby, J. Louis 
Grady, Miss Mollie Powell and Miss Olive Spence, from Appling, who was vis- 
iting her sister, Mrs, Cannon, were two popular young ladies of the occasion, 
J, W. Strickland and brother, Thomas L., and their sister, Elizabeth, Avith my 
sister, Isabel, and myself, comipletes the list of Blackshear folks as far as I can 
remember. 

Of the .young ladies present, I will further say that Miss Mollie Powell 
married Mr, Simeon White, of Waycross; Miss Olive Spence married Mr, 
George Eason, of Appling, and Miss Florida Roberts married Mr, Williams, 
of Wa3me. 

It is needless to say that the occasion was highly enjoyable, and that the 
soldiers were the heroes of the hour. 

In the fall of 18G4 J. L. Sweat and J. W. Strickland, both schoolboj^s, 
joined the 4th Georgia Cavalry, Captain McMillan's company. Others from 
Blackshear who belonged to this regiment were Mr. B, D, Brantle}^, Mr, 
Simeon A\niite, Mr, C, C. Buchanan, the Messrs, Griflin and Ben Dixon and 
Mr, James Brown, who afterward married Sarah Jane Jones. 

My brother Colquitt, was killed at the battle of Spottsylvania Court 
House, in the famous charge of the ''Gordon's Brigade," on the 12th of May, 
18()4. He had never been wounded before in all the battles in which he had 
been engaged. 

My cousin, Mitchell Sweat, was wounded in the arm. He and Joseph 
Harper, of Blackshear, and John Cleland. Dan O'Berry and J. J. Henderson, 
from the countr}', were all that I remember belonging to the 26th Georgia 
Regiment. 

In 1864 a good many Yankee prisoners were quartered in Blackshear. I 
believe it was Captain Browns' company that was guarding them. They were 
encamped under the hill, not far from Ward's Chapel, about v.here the remains 
of the old brick kiln pond is some times pointed out. The prisoners were 
const antl}^ escaping or "breaking the stockade," as they called it. They were 
persued and generallj^ caught and carried back. One came to our home early 
one morning and mother gave him a good breakfast and told him to escape if 
he could and go home to his mother. He was young and the thought of her 
own son softened Mother's heart towards him. But he was captured that 
same da}- and taken back to camp. 

Two prisoners got as far as Wayne county. They hid in the fodder-loft 
at Uncle Tommy Purdom's, Avhere they were found by Tollie, his young son, 
while he was hunting for eggs. A great hue and cry was raised, in which 
his brother, J. Mason, joined as heartily as any. Mr. Purdom carried them 
to Screven, Ga., and turned them over to our soldiers. 

One of the prisoners was buried near the sidewalk where Mr. Harley 
Davis' store is. His body Avas removed after the Avar. 

One of our men, a Mr. Armstrong, Avas buried in Mr, Brantley's field, back 
of (he Methodist church. He was later moved up to the cemetery. 

There Avere a good man.y of our men sick in the old courthouse. They 
used it for a hospital. After the Avar the Yankees used it for a hospital, too. 

Mrs, B, D, Brantley used to bake biscuits for the Yankee soldiers. In re- 
turn they gave her coffee, sugar, etc. for her OAvn needs. 

In 1865-66, Rev. J. L. H, Greenleaf was superintendent of the Sunday 
School again, and II, W. Grady, secretary, Avith the folloAving teachers, and 

14 



members : 

Class No. 1: Miss Maiy Campbell, teacher; pupils, Julius King, Joseph 
Whiteford, Keightley Harper, Edward Whildeii, Randolph Howard and 
Willie and Thomas Jones. 

Class No. 2: Captain King, teaciier, pupils, William Campbell, brother 
of Miss Marj^; Jeptha and Barzillai ISIilton, James Harper, Horace Robinson, 
Tarlton and Charles Knight. 

Class No. 3: Miss Elisabeth Harper, teacher; pupils, Na.icy Strickland, 
Courtney Stewart, Mina Darling, Sarah INlilton. Annie Crosby Grady, Alice 
Sufley, Charlotte Jones and George Goethe and Charles Harper. 

Class No. 4: Mrs. AVhiteford, teacher; pupils, Rena Darling, Amarintha 
Powell, Annie AVhilden, Sarah Jane Jones, Rosa Lugg, Lou and Margeret 
Raybon, and Mary and Kizzie Strickland. 

Class No. 5: Mrs. King, teacher; pupils. Belle Strickland. Mellie Har- 
per, Ida Hopkins, Ellen King, HenrieLta Sweat, Catherine Whilden and Chris- 
tian and Margaret Brantley. 

Class No. G: Josc^ph A. Harper, teacher; pupils, MoUie Jenkins, Mary 
AVhilden, Addie Youmans, Dora Darling, Nancy Knight, Mattie Branch, 
Mazelle and Missouri Knight, Agnes and Ella Robinson, Lula and Ella Over- 
street and Willie and Archie Brantle}^ 

In 18GG Class No. 7 had for its teacher Mrs. King, and its roll was as fol- 
lows: Annie E. Hendry, Mollie Jenkins, Christian and Margaret Brantley 
and Keightley Stewart, James Goethe, William Raybon, Simeon Douglas, 
Beauregard Whilden and James and Charles Harper. 

In 18GG Miss Mary Campbell married Mr. R. B. Reppard. 

Of all those who wont to Simday School and Dry School in those days, the 
follovring is as complete a record as I can get: 

Mr. and Mrs. Steele are dead; William Campbell is dead; Mr. Wells and 
Brooker Thomas never came back from the war; Johnnie Jenkins and James 
Harper are dead; Colquitt and Keightley Stewart are dead, and I do not know" 
what !)ecame of Hiram Peacock and Simeon Douglas. INIr. B. B. Wilson came 
back from the war but left Blackshear sometime afterward. One of the Blitch 
brothers, I have forgotten which, is dead. Mrs. Nancy Strickland Ahl is dead. 
She and her husband and son are buried in the Blackshear cemetery. Mrs. 
Annie Whilden Strickland is dead, and INlrs. Susan Brewton Goethe, also. 
William Raybon is living in Wavcross. He has been in Ihe legislature several 
times and served his county well. J. W. Strickland and Charles Harper live 
in Waycross. Col. J. L. Sweat is another representative citizen of Waycross. 
Mrs. Marv Campbell Reppard lives in Savannah. INIrs. IMary Harper Bn- 
chanan. Mrs. Addie Youmans Patterson, ]\Irs. jNIargaret Brantley Estes, Mrs. 
Annie Hendry Strickland and Mr. Ed. Whilden live in Waycross. Julius 
King lives in Chattanooga. Jeptha Milton lives in Blackshear, but I do not 
know where his brother, Barzillai, lives. Mrs. Mary Strickland jNIcMillan and 
Mrs. Kizzie Riggins are living in Blackshear; also Mrs. A. M. Moore, Sr. 
Mrs. Mina Darling x\rmitage died in 1888. Mrs. Lou Raybon Herrin and her 
sister, Mrs. Margaret Moore, are both dead. Mrs, Amarintha Powell Shadron 
is dead. Mrs. Annie (irady Bruce is dead also. Mrs. King and Sarah Milton 
are dead. Randolph Howard was li\ing a year or two ago. I do not know 
anything of Thomas and Willie fTono^, nor of Jose])!) Whiteford or Horace 
Robinson. Tarlton and Charles Knight left here and I do not know if they 
are living. Miss Esther Blitch was living last year, but her sister, Mrs. Elisa- 
l)eth Blitch M^'ddleton, is dead. Their sister, Mrs. Dora Street, is living, but 
I do not know anytliing of Kizzie Blitch. Mrs. Nancy Bailey is living. Her 
daughter Cora, married Mr. Tracy L. Acosta, of Blackshear, and is living in 
Jacksonville. Fla. Mrs. Rena Darling Myers lives in Waycross, her daughter, 
Mary Darling Mvers, is a foreign missionary to Korea. Mrs. Dora Darling 
Moblcy livese at t*unta (jorda. Fla. Mrs. Marv Whilden Ruth lives in South 
Carolina. Beauregard Whilden lived in Birmingham, Ala., in the boom days 
of the 80"s. He married in Alabama, but died several years ago. Mrs. Mollie 

15 



Jenkins D'Aiivergne is dead. Mrs. Mellie Harper Culpepper is living in 
Florida, and Mrs. Catherine "Wliilden Xoble lives in Brunswick, Ga. 

I do not know anything of Mrs. Whiteford, Mrs. Alice Siflej' Malone or of 
Ida Hopkins, Henrietta Sweat, Kosa Lugg, Mollie Johnson, Mary Peacock, 
Mattie Branch or the Misses Agnes and Ella Robinson or the Misses Mazelle, 
Missouri and Xancy Knight ; neither do I know of William King. 

Mrs. Courtney Stewart Richardson lives in Macon, Ga. Mrs. Sarah Jones 
Brown and her sister, Mrs. Charlotte Griner, are living in Pierce county, not 
far from Blackshear. Mrs. Elizabeth Harper Goethe was living in Florida 
the last I heard of her. Mrs. Belle Strickland Sprague lives in Phippsburg, 
Me. Mrs. Ellen King Morrison lives in Hawkinsville, Ga. Dr. James Goethe 
lives at Ocilla, Ga., and George Goethe is living, but I do not know where. 
Lulu Overstreet is dead and her sister, Mrs. Ella Ray, lives in Jacksonville, 
Florida. 

Our superintendent and secretary of 1865 and '66 have long since gone to 
their reward in Heaven. 

Mrs. Christian Brantley Purdon lives in Blackshear and her sister, Mrs. 
Margaret Estes, lives in AVaycross. Hon. W. G. Brantley lives in Washington, 
D. C., where he has a position as attorney of the Southern group of railroads. 
At the age of 21 he was elected Maj^or of Blackshear, but discovered for him- 
self that he was too young to serve. Later he represented his county in both 
branches of the Legislature. Then was Solicitor General of the Brunswick 
Circuit. From this he was elected to Congress in 1896, where he served for 
sixteen consecutive years. After finishing a classical course at the University 
of Georgia, he studied law under the late Col. J. C. Nicholls. 

Archibald P. Brantley lives in Blackshear and Hendersonville, N. C. He 
is a man of excellent business and financial ability, and together with his 
brothers, has managed the business begun by his father, until it has become one 
of the largest concerns in Southeast Georgia. But the Brantley brothers are 
not the only menibers of the family to bring honors to their native town, for 
their youngest sister, Jeannette B. Langley, is a writer of note. Her short 
stories and newspaer articles have brought her fame. 

Now back to 1865: The war was over and the country under martial 
law. The first company of Yankee soldiers to come to Blackshear were West- 
ern men, and they v/ere liked by the v.hole town. They were honorable and 
pleasant men. But the next soldiers Mere regular ''down casters," and were 
just as hateful as the others were nice. They Avent all over the country, steal- 
ing and plundering. They were Sherman's men, and were in practice in such 
meanness. They raided our place so often that my mother had to go to the 
commanding officer and get a guard for our place at night.. But after the 
country was re-constructed they were all withdrawn, and our town settled 
down to make the best of what was left. 

New families came in and some we had moved away. Among the first 
to come Mere Captain Brunt and family, Mr. James Wade and family, and a 
Mr. AVilliams and family, Mr. George Dobson and family, and ^Ir. and Mrs. 
Chapman and famil^^ 

Mr. Shepherd Davis and family and the Griner family had been living in 
the country near Blackshear since 1857. The Youmans family was one of the 
pioneers of Pierce. The father of Charles, Thomas, AVilliam and of Perry, 
was John Youmans. James, Robert and Stephen were his nephews. 

Capt. James Waters came in 1859 or '60, and settled about five miles from 
Blackshear. He had tMo children, James and Hannah, who used to attend 
school in town. 

Among those to come in the years 1865-66-67-68-69 weve Capt. Dan Know- 
les and family, Mr. and Mrs. Lamb Pittman and their dauditer Lou, Avho 
married Dave Brewton, and was the mother of Mrs. J. O. Ward 

Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Acosta moved to Blackshear. They had six children. 
Their daughter, Mrs. Mamie Mitchell, M-as born after they came here. 

Capt. John C. Nicholls, wife and little daughter Kate, moved in from 

16 



Waynesville. Mrs. Nicholls was the daug-hter of Chief Justice Wm. Clopton, 
of Richmond, Va. C'iij)!. Joseph Stone, his wife and two children. Joe and 
I.eila. Major and Mrs. Robertson and three children, Morton, Victor and 
Marie, afterwards Mrs. Turner, of Quitman. Dr. Henry J. Smith, wife and 
six children. Mr. R. W. Carpenter, wife and nephew, 'Walter Cole. Judge 
William M. Sessions, wife and five children. Mrs. Sessions' brother, Capt. 
J. A. McKinney, who married Miss Janie Acosta. Col. G. M. T. Ware and 
wife, my sister, Isabel. Captain Mosely and family and Mr. and Mrs. Owens 
and famil}^ 

In 18G6 Mr, James L. Mitchell and Miss Nancy Knowles taught the 
Blackshear school. Miss Nancy Knowles married Dr. Latimer and Mr. Mitch- 
ell married her sister, Tabitha Eugenia Knowles. 

Mr. and ]\Irs. Seaborn Hall moved in about this time, and Mr. and Mrs. 
Barbee and famil^^ 

In 186G the bodies of all the Yankee soldiers who were buried in and 
around Blackshear during the war, were taken up by the Government and 
moved to National cemeteries. 

On Fridaj^, Feb. 23, 18G6, Mike Lippman's Circus came to town. It did 
not cause as much excitement as Old John Robinson's, but it drew a great 
crowxl. I remember the occasion, as I felt such keen disappointment in not 
getting to go. It was a cold, rainj' day, and my niothcr thought the weather 
too bad to go out. My brother Keightley. was clerking in town, and my sister 
Couitney, was boarding there, going to school, so they had the chance of see- 
ing the circus and they described it to me. 

After the negroes were free, they went away in different directions, to set 
up for themselves, and Mother rented her farm to a white man, who with his 
family, lived on the place. Mother and I were the only ones of the family 
at home this spring, and Oh ! it was lonesome. 

In May, 1SG7, there was a large Sunday School celebration held in Black- 
shear on the hill where Mv. Wylie lives. Judge Sessions was living there 
then. The Sunday Schools from Thomasville, Quitman, Valdosta, Homer- 
ville and "Tebeauville," came with banners to the celebration. Addresses 
fnmi representative speakers of the visiting schools, responded to by our own, 
was the opening feature. This was followed by a grand dinner which was 
served on tables under the trees. A barrel of lemonade was not the least of 
the attractions. There was an improvement in this lemonade over that of our 
first celebration in 18G0, it being iced. The young people played games and a 
good social time generally was enjoyed. Miss Ann E. Leak, the armless lady, 
was on exhibition there that day. She could feed herself with a knife and 
fork, comb her hair, plaj' the piano, sew and knit and do various things with 
her feet and toes. She wore a ring and mittens on her feet. Years afterward 
she married and became the mother of a son. In 1897 she, with her mother, 
brother and cousin, Mrs. Foe, were living in Fhiladelphia. 

I think it was in 1868 that Blackshear had a regular ghost. It was at 
the Sessions place, on the hill. Judge Sessions had moved elsewhere and a 
Mrs. Conner lived in the dining room and kitchen, with her two daughters. 
The ghost was a mysterious noise, visible at times as a puff of smoke. The 
noise was a dee)) moan, like someone in pain, and it could be heard all over 
the ])lace, first in one spot and then another. Nearly everyl)ody in Blackshear 
and the surrounding country went to hear it. and to investigate the cause. It 
was noticeable that they nearly always went in crowds. A particularly brave 
lady from the country, Mrs. Doc James, said that if my sister, Mrs. (Jrady, 
Avould go with her at some quiet time, that she would speak to it in these 
words: '"What, in the name of the Lord, do you want T' Then, if it was a, 
regular ghost, it would reply. When the time came to start her sister-in-law, 
Mrs. Gen. James, volunteered to go with them. Sustained by company, Mrs. 
James now thought she would discover the secret. Everything was still and 
silent when they reached there, the family not even visible; so they took their 
stand under the trees and awaited the manifestation. Soon they heard it 

17 



approaching through the air, getting louder as it neared them. But their 
courao;e failed and thej^ fled precipitately, without giving it a chance to ex- 
press itself. 

This mystery was never explained. Dr. Moore investigated it thoroughly 
and failed. So the matter was dropped, for everj^^ody thought that if Dr. 
Moore could not find out, that no one could. Some said that Genie Conner 
was a ventriloquist and was doing it: others that it was the ghost of one of 
Colonel Hopkins' little negroes that Avas drowned in the well during the war. 
I do not believe in ghosts, but if such a thing Avere possible. I would think it 
was my old teacher, Mr. Charles E. Ford, who was killed by a train in the 
cut in front of the house, July 25, 1861, and was buried at Shiloh.i He often 
said that he Avould never die satisfied unless he could go back to his home in 
Baltimore and see his mother once more. 

He left home against his parents' wishes when only 18 years old, and 
enlisted as a volunteer in the U. S. Army to fight the Mexicans. He fought all 
through the war and at its close re-enlisted and served another term. He was 
then honorably discharged and he started for home, but stopped in Bruns- 
wick and had a long spell of fever, which cost him all his money. Then he 
came to Blackshear, in 1859, looking for a job. As he was educated, nw uncle, 
Allen Strickland, got him to teach for his, and my mother's and INIr. Shepherd 
Davis' families, in a school house built midwaj'^ between the three homes. He 
was a good man and a kind teacher and everyone liked him. 

Uncle Allen appreciated his worth and saw that he Avas wasting his talents 
teaching a little countr}^ school, so he built a house for him in Blackshear, on 
the site of Mr. J. M. Purdom's present home, Avhere he engaged in the tailoring 
business. He joined the Methodist church and was doing well. But in the 
first of '61 he heard of his mother's death which so overcam.e him that he took 
to drink and was gloomy and melancholy until his death. 

After Mrs. Conner left the place the ghost was never heard again. My 
nephew, J. L. Grady, lived in the house until he built the new one, when it was 
torn doAvn, and he never heard it there. 

Of course the cemetery at Shiloh had its ghosts. Mrs. Sifley and another 
lady were passing there late one evening, and were naturally looking for 
ghosts. They claimed they saAV one, but I expect it was a tombstone or a man 
— either one was a rare sight during the war. 

The road by Shiloh Avas not a public road, and no one went that way 
except at church times, once a month. But one evening my mother and sisteV 
Courtne3\ Avere coming home that waA", Avhen they saAV a ghost, or a man. He 
was standing b}' a railing around a grave with his head boAved Ioaa-, and he 
did not raise it Avhen they passed. As far as they could see him he Avas in the 
same position. My sister AA-as a little girl then, but she remembers it Avell, and 
she tells me to Avrite in my book that it was a ghost. 

While I am Avriting about Shiloh, I will tell some later history. At the 
time that Pierce Avas carved from the counties of Ware, Wajme and Appling, 
there Avas no other church in it but Shiloh, and no other Baptist church unttl 
after the Avar. Then they had a split in the church about the homestead law. 
Rev. Beuben CniAvford favored it, and Rev. Richard Bennett AA-as against it. 
Rev. Bennett withdreAA- from Shiloh and some of the members followed him 
They organized Rnmah and Prospect churches, and the Ben James church. 
The latter was named in honor of one of the best members at Shiloh. He AAas 
a very benevolent man and loAcd children. Besides bringing up his own fam- 
ily and several orandchildren, he raised many other children, who were no kin 
to himself or wife. 

Another old family iioaa- comes to my mind, the Walker family, AA'hich is 
connected with other i)rominent pioneer families of Pierce. Plon. Randall J. 
Walker, senator from that district, is a descendant Avhich does it credit. 

Dr. Heni-y J. Smith moved from Jacksonville, Telfair county, to Black- 
shear sometime in the sixties. He Avas a A\-ell-educated man and a good 
physician. 

18 



After Mr. Greenleaf gave up active Avork in the Sunday School, Mr. R. 
B. Reppard was superintendent for a year or two. His father, Mr. Aaron 
Reppard, had two bi<>- saw mills near Blackshear. One was about where Mr. 
Root's mill is now. He had that bif^ ditch dug to float logs. 

Dr. A. M. Moore was the next supreintendent, and he kept that office until 
the Presbyterian Sunda}^ School was organized, about 187() or '77, when he 
went to that, he being a Presbyterian by faith. Dr. Moore was a man of great 
intellectuality and sentiment. He was a poet of ability, and no one could 
write sweeter obituaries. His write-up of marriages was beautifully done. 
In his profession he did a great deal of charity work, and no one will know, 
until the Judgment Day, how many hearts he cheered, nor how many poor 
people he treated free of charge. 

Mr. J. W. Strickland was then made superintendent and he kept the office 
until he moved to Waycross, in 1890. 

The Presbyterian* church was organized May 18, 1872. Their first stated 
supply was Rev. "VYashl)urn, who preached in Blackshear about 18()9 to 1871. 
He was a bachelor and boarded at Mrs. Brantley's. The charter members of 
the Presbyterian church were Dr. and Mrs. A. M. Moore, Capt. and Mrs. J. C. 
Nicholls, jNIrs. B. D. Brantley, Miss Margaret Brantley, Mrs. Georgia Day, 
Mrs. Harry Re])pard and Mrs. D. H. Campbell. 

The church was erected in 1874, and was built by Mr. William Arinitage. 
The first regular minister was Rev. R. Q. Way, who had been a missionary to 
China and could speak Chinese. He could sing and play Chinese songs. 

Mr. Washburn, during his stay in Blackshear, was the evangelist of the 
Savannah Presbj'tery, and some of the oldest Presbyterian churches in the 
Presb3^tery, which were at St. Mary's. Waynesville, Brunswick and Darien. 

Rev. R. Q. Way was succeeded by his nephew. Rev. John W. Quarter- 
man. Mr. Quarterman lived in Blackshear and he taught school at the old 
Blackshear Academ3\ This building Avas burned while the school was in 
session, in Ma}', 1876. 

In 1870 more families moved to Blackshear, among them, ]\Ir. Robert 
Burton and family. He was the proprietor of the first paper in Blackshear. 
It was "'The Southeast Georgian." My brother Keightley, learned to set type 
on that paper. 

In December, 1870, my mother moved to Blackshear. In 18(1 the Sunday 
School picnic was at the Mill Branch. I was sick that day with my first spell 
of fever,a nd could not go. My sister, Mrs. Grady, Keightley and Courtney, 
went to the picnic and only Mother and I were at home. It seemed a long, 
long day. 

In August, 1871, my uncle, James B. Strickland, died and Avas buried at 
Shiloh. 

Sometime in 1870 Dr. T. J. Darling and family moved in from the country 
from where Mr. Columbus James now lives to the place on Wai'e street where 
Mr. Tom Woods lives now. Rev. C. C. Buchanan settled the place. 

On the 27th of December, 1870, the Masonic Lodge gave a banquet, the 
first of its kind in Blackshear. A young lady. Miss Annie Ratliffe, was mar- 
ried at night. 

In 1871 and '72 Dr. A. M. Moore taught school, and in 1872 Dr. Moore 
organized a lemperance lodge called '"The United Friends of Temperance." 
Both ladies and gentlemen belonged to it, and we surely had some good times 
up in the lodge room. 

In 1872 ^Ir. Burton sold the pajier to Mr. H. W. Grady, who in 1873 sold 
it to my mother. J. Mason Purdom and Keightley Stewart became the pro- 
prietors for a few years. 

The Sunday School picnic in 1872 was at the old Academy The United 
Friends of Temperance and the IVIasonic Lodge had their picnic in a large 
barn up the railroad, where Mr. Pike and INIr. Lemuel Johnson had a big saw 
mill. 

Mr. James Harper moved to Ware count}-^ this year. AVhile living there 

19 



four of his children married; Charles, Keightle^'^, Mellie and Jennie. 

May 3, 1874 the Temperance Lodges of Blackshear and Waycross had a 
picnic in the park in front of Mrs. Kizzie Riggin's. Dr. A. M. Moore made 
the address of the day, and a yonng man from Waycross sang a beautiful 
temperance song. His name was McNamara. They had a stand made for the 
speakers and over the stand in large letters made of flowers was the word 
"'Welcome." Bro. Howard W. Key made a speech. He was pastor in Black- 
shear then. 

Mr. Willie Myers, brother to the Kev. H. B. Myers, taught school in Black- 
shear in 1874. He was followed in 1875 by his brother James, and Miss Mina 
Darling. 

The fourth Sunday night in March, 1874, a terrible tragedy occurred 
which threw the town into the wildest state of excitement it had ever knoAvn. 
Walter Cole, the most popular young man in Blackshear, was foully murdered 
between Ware street and liailroad street, near the Felix Robinson place. He 
was shot in the back and struck on the head with a gun. His throat was cut 
and his body trampled on. The shot %vas heard bj'' persons living nearest, but 
the body was not found until daylight. There was no business done that day. 
Men, women and children were on the street talking of the fearful deed, trying 
to find a cleAv to the murderer. The men organized search hig parties and 
every house in town was searched. There was no evidence found anywhere, 
xcept in the home of his uncle, Mr. Carpenter, who lived where Col. Foster 
Mcmor}' now lives. Bloody hand-prints were found on the gate and bloodj'' 
clothes in the attic. Human hair was found on the gun stock which fitted in 
the wound on the head. 

Mr. Carpenter was indicted for tlie murder and tried. On this celebrated 
case Colonel Nicholls, who defended it, won fame and made a start in law that 
led him to success and later to two terms in Congress. His line of defense was 
that all the evidence Avas purely circumstantial, and a man could not be con- 
victed on circumstantial evidence alone. The trial lasted over a week, and in 
spite of the great feeling against him, Mr. Carpenter was not indicted, but 
was set free. 

To this day the murderer of Walter Cole has never been apprehended. 
Mr. (^'.rpenter died a few vears ago, and the secret, as far as he was concerned, 
is locked in the grave until the secrets of all hearts are laid baj'e in the great 
Day of Judgment. 

The families of Seaborn and Milton Wade, from Savannah, came in 1872. 
Ivfrs. Seaborn Wade Mas the daughter of Colonel Thompson, author, and editor 
of the Savannah Morning Xews. 

Mr. and Mrs. Jake Colcord and family came in 1873 ; also Mr. and Mrs. 
Dan Patterson. The family of I^Ir. and Mrs. John Booth came in 1871. Mr. 
and Mrs. Henry Stewart and sister, Miss Julia Stewart, came in 1874. Mr. 
John StcAvart and family, with his mother, Mrs. Sallie Stewart, and neice, 
Emmie Stewart, came in 1875. His nephew, Rev. Edgar Black and family, 
came at the same time. Mr. Jake Colcord and family, also Mr. Harry Rep- 
pard and family and Mr. and Mrs. John Patterson came in 1875. Mr. and 
Mrs. Dave Brinson came in 1876. The families of Easterlin, Morgan and 
Nostran came in 1875. Mr. Willie Norman and family came in 1877. 

March, 1875, was the time of the ^-reat fire in Blackshear. The courthou'^e 
and all the stores on the Avest side of the railroad, with the exception of Mr. 
B. D. Brantley's, were burned. The fire started in the store of a Mr. Malone, 
who lived in Blackshear at that time, and did business. His goods were in- 
sured for more than they were worth and people thought he burned his store 
to get the insurance. The other buildings caught froni his. He left Black- 
shear soon after this. 

In 1875 four young ladies of Blackshear were married. Miss Agnes 
Smith, eldest daughtero f Dr. Smith, married IMr. J. P. Renfroe. They Hved 
in Florida, near St. Petersburg. Miss Courtney Stewart married Mr. John 
B. Richardson, Julv 1st. Her attendants were her three cousins, the Misses 

20 



Nancy and Maria Strickland, and Mr. J. M. Pnrdom. The best man was Mr. 
Millard Surrency, of Jesiip. My sister is a widow noAv and is living in Macon. 
Both her bridesmaids are dead. On the 5th of December Miss Nancy Strick- 
land married Mr. William Ahl, and Miss Margaret Raybon married Mr. 
Charlie Moore. It M-as a double Avedding and took place at Aunt Mary Strick- 
land's. All of them are now dead. 

Mr. and Mrs. Walker were living about Avhere Mrs. McCabe lives now. 
Their son Willie, who had been clerking for ^Ir. Whaley, in Jesup, and had 
contracted yellow fever and come home, was made worse by the noise and 
excitement of the election. It was for the State Legislature, and Colonel 
Cochran and J. W. Strickland were the candidates running. Willie Walker 
died in a few da^'s. 

This year my brother Keightley, went to Montgomery, Ala., to work there 
in the printing office of the Sunday Morning Hornet. 

Yellow fever was in Savannah and Brunswick, with a few cases in Jesup, 
vrhere parties had contracted it elsewhere. There was no quarantine and 
Bhickshear was full of refugees from these places. Business men would spend 
the night in Blackshear and go back in the morning. This was in 1876. 

In August. 1876, Miss Ella Moore was m;irried to ]VIr. Seward Grey, a 
jeweler. They moved away to Indian River. Fla. 

In October of that srm.e year Miss liester Brantley was married to ^Ir. 
S. T. Memory, in the Presbyterian church. 

The Greys located in Titusville, Fla. They had three little girls, and 
Mrs. Gray died in 1881. She had been dead a month before her father, Dr. 
Moore, heard of it. Florida wasn't built up then. 

Mr. Jack Jenkins taught the school again in 1877. That year the school 
children had a picnic beyond the cemetery. Archie, Bennie and John Brant- 
ley; Alice and Leila Llendr}'- and their neice, Lillie Hendry. Also May and 
Leila Quartermaster, Sallie and Janie Mallon and Fannie Stewart, Mr. John 
Stewart's daughter. Also Maria and Mollie Strickland and I, were there. 

The Baptist church was organized in 1877. in a school house on Ware 
street, where Captain Fuller taught school. The church was built in 1878. 
Rev. Atkinson organized the church and was pastor until his death, about 
1880 or '81. He died from a carbuncle on his neck. After she grew up, his 
daughter, Virginia, became a Missionarj^ to China. The first superintendent 
of the Baptist Sunday School was the father of Col. J. I. Summerall. 

It was about 187*8 that Rev. J. M. INIarshall, a local Methodist preacher, 
lived in Blackshear. His son Truitt, had a wonderful memory and could 
repeat whole chapters from the Bible. Dean Milton was the only one in our 
class Avho could compete with him. Col. S. W. Hitch was our teacher then. 

Capt. J. M. Lee moved to Blackshear in 1877 and lived there a few years, 
then going to Waycross. In a difficulty with Mr. Gus Long, over a mule, Mr. 
Lee stabbed him to death with a pair of sheep shears. He was convicted and 
sentenced, but later pardoned by the Governor. 

Another tragedy in Blackshear was the murder of INIrs. Skelly, sometime 
about 1874 or *75^ Her husband killed her with an iron pot while in a drunken 
rage. He was tried, convicted and hung. This was the first white man hung 
in Pierce county. The scafl'old stood a little beyond the Rankin branch, in 
the woods on a hill. It was an object of interest until it rotted down. 

About this time a Mr. Brothers, who lived in a house that was bought and 
torn down by ^Mr. Green MclNIillan when he erected the present home, shot one 
night through the window, at a noise he heard. Next morning when he went 
out to look around he found a man dead by the window. It was said that Mr. 
Brothers never got over it. He moved away from Blackshear soon atferward. 

The first snow that covered the ground in Blackshear fell in 1879, on the 
first Sunday in January. Mr. R. B. Reppard was there that day. and his 
sister-in-law, Mrs. Greenleaf, went to Sunday School with hiui in the after- 
noon. She took a severe cold A\hich ran into consumption. When a girl her 
father had to leave Maine and come to Georgia for her health. 

21 



May 7, 1879, Mr. Reppard had a Sunday School Jubilee at New Chau- 
tauqua. It was a beautiful place, on the Little Satilla river, about one mile 
from Screven. My cousin Belle Strickland, didn't want to go that day be- 
cause she was expecting her beau, Capt. Frank Higgins, to come, but she was 
persuaded into going. He came to Waycross that day and missed connection 
with his train. As there was no other train he had to wait there until night. 
Both passed a miserable day. The next day, the 8th, they were married, and 
are the parents of Mrs. Hard}'^ Kellar. 

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Campbell and three children, Edward, Rollins and 
Bessie, had been living in Blackshear since 1872 or '73. Mrs. Campbell was 
the sister of Mr. Aaron Reppard, and aunt of Mr. R. B. Reppard. 

Mr. and Mrs. Shaw moved back to Blackshear in 1878. They had li\ed 
there in 1860-61. 

In 1880 Prof, and Mrs. D. N. Baldwin and children, Lennie and Annie, 
and Mrs. Baldwin's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lockhart, came to Blackshear. 
Captain Hanna and family came also, and Mr. Joe Grey and parents, Avith 
their family. Mr. James A. Harper moved back that year. Mr. and Mrs. 
Gregory came in 1882. 

Professor Baldwin organized a band in Blackshear that year. The mem- 
bers of it v.'ere, Captain Hannah and his son Johnnie, Dr. William Noble, 
Willie Lackhart, John Strickland, Green McMillan, Count Darling, Jeff Darl- 
ing and little Lennie Baldwin. 

The week of July 4th, 1880, was the hottest weather ever felt in that part 
of the country. 

On the 10th of November, 1880, about 12 o'clock, the cyclone came. It 
wrecked my mother's house, tearing the dining room and kitchen to pieces 
and throwing the rest of the house off its pillars. It grew so dark Mother 
started to the kitchen to shut the windows, but only got to the back parlor 
door. I was in the kitchen and started to go to her but only reached the 
dining room when the crash came. Mother fell where she stood, but saw me 
caught in the wreck and thought I was crippled for life. But I got out some- 
hoAv, and got to her. The men from down town came running up and helped 
us all the}^ could. We were living where the Marion Hotel now stands, and 
portions of our house were cairied across the railroad. Something struck my 
back, in the crash, and I suffered from it several years. We moved that day 
to a house on Ware street, but later moved to where Mr. J. O. Ward lives. 

In December the scarlet feved broke out in town. Ten children were 
stricken with it. Leila Smith and her brother Moultrie; Mamie and Janie 
Strickland, childien of Mr. A. J. Strickland; Katie and Ista Noble, were 
some of the sufferers. Mrs. Strickland and Mrs. Noble were sisters. Mamie 
and Katie survived, but Janie and Ista died — dear little Janie, on Christmas 
Eve. There were presents for her on the Sunday School tree, and when she 
was dying her name was called out. Little Minnie Long, child of Mr. and Mrs. 
Gus Long, died with it. Two of Dr. Lattimore's children had it. It started 
from the hotel. A little bo j-named Ralph Sheppard had it there. 

Christmas day was a sad, sad day for Mother and all of us. On that day 
m)'' dear nephew, J. L. Grady, brought a letter to Mother, telling of my brother 
Keightley's death. He died on the 18th of September, in San Antonio, Texas, 
of consumption. He intended coming home in the spring. He was always a 
delicate boy. 

In 1881 our house was fixed up again. New blocks were put under it, but 
it was so high from the ground. We were living in it when, in August, an- 
other storm came. But I was not afraid then. 

Miss Maria Strickland and Dr. Capers Daniel, from Liberty county, were 
married the 1st of September, 1881. 

Captain Planna taught the school in 1882. 

On the 1st of May, 1882, Colonel Nicholls, who had lost his first wife the 
year before, Avas married to Miss Ida Acosta. There were tAVO more young 
ladies married in 1882. Miss Kate Nicholls, only daughter of Colonel Nich- 

22 



oils, by his first wife, married Mr. Wm. G. Henderson, a lawyer from Wash- 
ino^ton, D. C, on June 23rd. She had an elegant weddin<2:; one of the largest, 
if not the very largest, ever held in Blackshear. Among the attendants were 
her cousins. Misses Ella, Delia Forencre, the former of whom later married 
Mr, A. P. Brantley, who was also an attendant. Mrs. T. L. Strickland, a 
pianist and fine music teacher, played the wedding march. The wedding wiis 
at the Presbyterian church. Miss' Mina Darling and Mr. William Armitage 
were married that year, and went to Florida to live. Mr. Armitage was an 
Englishman and a fine architect and builder. 

This year brought me a great soiTow,a nd broke up my home in Black- 
shear, My dear mother died the 7th day of May, after a short illness. Then 
I wont to live with mj^ sister, Mrs. Ware, in Jesup. My sister, Mrs. Grady 
and family, went to live in Ware county. 

Returning to the history of the Baptist church in Blackshear: After the 
death of Rev. Atkinson, (he Rev. Mr. Jenkins was pastor. He was followed 
by the Rev, JNIr, Scruggs, who lives now in Waycross. Then Rev. M. A. 
Grace was pastor. He was followed by the Rev. Mr. Cain, who with his wnfe, 
taught school in Blackshear. Then came the Rev, Mr, Richardson and the 
Rev, Mr. Thompson, The present pastor is Rev, J. P. McGraw. 

At the Presbj'terian church. Rev. John Quartermaster was succeeded in 
1S88 by Rev. R, L, Fulton, The minister was the Rev, L, B, Davis. Assisted 
by the Rev, Mr. Word, of Quitman, March 14, 1891, he preached the funeral 
sermon of Mr, B. D. Brantley. Mrs. B. D. Brantley died November T, 1910. 

Mr. Davis was succeeded b}'^ the Rev. C. C. Carson, who was pastor, both 
at Blackshear and Flemington. Pie was succeeded by the Rev. W. M. Hunter. 
It is owing largeh' to tlie tireless energy, enthusiasm and activity of Mr, 
Hunter that the Presbyterial Institute was organized under his pastorate. 
The Mnnse was also built during Mr. Hunter's pastorate. Rev. A. L. Patter- 
son, the present incumbent, succeeded the Rev. Mr. Plunter, 

SomeAvhere about 1890, the Ladies' Aid Society was organized, and later, 
under the skillful leadership of Mrs, Patterson, the girFs societ}'', the Myriams, 
was organized. The first officers of the Ladies' xVid were Mrs, S. J. 'Moore, 
president ; Mrs. A. B. Estes, treasurer. Mrs. B. D, Brantley was afterward 
made president. These societies are remarkable for the harmony under which 
they work and the results they achieve. 

The Presbyterian Sunday School has had only two superintendents. Dr. 
A. M. Moore and B, D, Brantley, Jr. 

Since Mr, J, W, Strickland moved to Waycross the Methodist Sunday 
School has had Mr, J. L. Grady. Mr, E. L, Darling, Mr, J. O. Ward, I\Ir. 
Turner Hughes, Dr. Brewer, Mr, A, J. Strickland and Mr. W. S. Bruce for its 
superintendents, in the order named. 

The Baptist Sunday School has had for its superintendents. Col, J, C. 
Nicholls, Col, Sturgis, Col, J, I, Summerall, Mr, Joseph A. Harper, Dr, J, L. 
Estes, Col. R. G. Mitchell, Mr. M. G. Robinson, Mr. John Knight and Mr. R. 
D. Thomas. 

Col. A. B, Estes Avas County School Commissioner first, and then Mr, 
Joseph A. Harper held the office for many years, until his death. 

INIr, Harper's father died in 188G, His mother moved to Eastman, but did 
not live long after she went there. Her daughters. Lulu and Lottie, were 
married about this time, the first to Mr, William Cotter, and the latter to Rev. 
George Culpepper. Lottie died in less than a year after her marriage, and 
Lula (lied in 1912. Joseph A. Harper was married twice, his first wife being 
Miss Belle Knowles, daughter of Captain Knowles, and his second wife Miss 
Mamie Holzendorf. John Harper, the youngest brother, married Miss Ger- 
trude Clary. 

In 1883 the school had for teacher. Col. W, W, Lambdin, now of Way- 
cross. Colonel Lambdin has been recently appointed Judge of the United 
States Court for the District of (ieorgia. 

In 1884 Miss Mildred Stead taught the school ; in 1886 Mr. S. P. Settle, 

23 



and in 1887 Mr. J. Kay, now an Atlanta attorney. Mr. J. D. Groff taught in 
1888, and after him Mr. J. W. Kellar. Later the Rev. A. A. Ellenwood had 
charge, and in 1890-91, Col. R. G. Mitchell taught. 

In 1891 the school building, known now as Gordon Hall, was erected. JNIr. 
Z. B. Rogers, assisted by his sister. Miss Alpha, taught in the new building. 

In 1892 Mr. O'Quinn taught school twice; once about 189-1 and again in 
1899. 

Mr. John Twitty and Miss Annie Maud Taylor taught school in 189G. 
Rev. Cain and his wife taught about 1893. In 1900 Mr. Murphy and his 
sister Maude, who afterward married Dr. A. M. Brown, had the school. 

Mr. Greenleaf in 1879. Mrs. Greenleaf died in 1883. Dr. A. M. Moore 
died in 1891. Dr. H. J. Smith died in 1893. Col. J. C. Xicholls died on 
Christmas Day, 1894 

The Woman's Foreign Missionary Society was organized in 1892. After 
Mrs. J. O. Ward joined the society, she organized a juvenile society. All the 
children of Methodist parents, and others besides, in Blackshear and some in 
McRae, Brinson, Ga., and in North Carolina and Florida, were members of it 
while she was lady manager. Mrs. M. A. Gregory was a great worker also. 
The Home Missionary Society of young ladies, including three married ladies, 
was organized in 1902. Miss Corra Weston, daughter of Rev. J. W. Weston, 
once pastor of the Methodist church, was a member. Mrs. Ward has been 
aided and supported in her religious work bj^ her husband, J. O. Ward, and 
together they have done a great deal for the uplift of the church. They 
founded Ward's Chapel and its Sunday School; also St. Joseph's Chapel. 

After the death of Mr. B. D. Brantley, Sr., in 1891, part of his land was 
given upon which to erect the building known as Gordon Hall, now the Boys' 
Dormitory. His sons were instrumental in having this school building, which 
served for several years as the Blackshear Academy, erected. At the same 
time the Oil Mill, the enlarged Sea Island Ginnery, and the plant of the Black- 
shear Manufacturing Co., which the Brantley's carry on in addition to their 
banking and mercantile establishments, were erected. 

The Presbyterial Institute was organized in 1901. Later the Girls' Dor- 
mitory and the handsome new main building were erected. Dr. Thomas J. 
Farrar was its first president. He and his wife and his mother were Vir- 
ginians. Dr. Farrar was succeeded by Mr. Lucas. Flis family consisted of 
his wife and daughter, Camille. The next president was Mr. T. J. Wilkinson. 
He was followed by Mr. Clement A. Snyder. 

The first faculty of the Presb^^terial Institute was as follows: Misses Mc- 
Guffey, Cora Weston, May Fisher and Miss Kate Gutherie, of Kentucky, with 
Mrs. Sims as matron. Some of the other teachers at the Presbyterial Insti- 
tute later on, were Mr. Martin, Dr. A. L. Patterson, Mr. Abram Brown, 
Major Sessions, Major McC^hee, Major McAlpine, Mr. Brinkley and Mr. 
Moore. Of the lady teachers. Miss Nannie Gutherie, Miss Sallie Sydnor, 
Miss Lula Martin, Miss Agnes Ezell, Miss Lacier, who died here; INIiss 6reo-g, 
Misses Helen and Fannie INIav Sexton. Miss Watson. Miss Woodall, INIiss Un- 
derwood, Mrs. H. V. McMillan. Miss Coyla Grey, Miss Gillespie, Miss Wood- 
ruff. Miss Conover, Miss Creighton, Miss Howard, INIiss Omei-od, Miss Ernes- 
tine Purdom, Miss Nell R. Krieshbaum and others who taughtt here. 

From 1905 to 1912 the Presbyterial Institute sent its graduates out into 
(he world well equipped for the responsibilities and duties'of life. Some of 
(hem have graduated from still higher institutions of learning; others are 
teaching. The ranks of minis(ers and physicians have been recruited from 
among them. 

When, during the presidency of Rev. Charles A. Mann, the Presbyterial 
Institute was no longer able to carry on its work wKhout assistance from the 
Presbytery of Savannah and went "into (he hands of its creditors, Mr. JNLinn 
taught it for a year or (wo on his own responsibility. Later it was purchased 
by the :Me(hodist Conference, and became a Iklethodist institution. Its first 
year with Rev. W. A. Huckabee as president has come to successful close, and 

24 



now with a now president. Rev. Mr. Jordan, still greater benefit is expected. 

The first faculty of the Pierce Institute, as the Presbyterial Institute is 
now known, consisted of: Rev. W. A. Iluckabee, president; Rev. T. M. Lee, 
vice-president, and teachers, Mr. Tell C. Kimbail, Misses Nell R. Kriechbaum, 
Elma Horsley, Lucy Pace, Margaret Hutchinson, Mary B. Harrison, Mary 
Rankin and Miss Lucie Roberts. Mrs. Huckabee was matron of the Girls' 
Dormitory and Mrs. Betts of the Boys' Dormitory. 

In 1912 Blackshear installed a splendid system of lights and water. Its 
streets are paved with iron pyrites and are shaded by fine old trees. From 
every yard flowers add brightness to the pretty old town. Everyone who 
comes to Blackshear one time always comes again and again. 

I will now tell of people who at one time lived in Blackshear, but have 
moved away. 

Mr. Cutner was the first Hebrew to do business in Blackshear. He came 
in ISGO and had a store on the same side of the street as the hotel. Then the 
Shemanskcy and Jacoby families came in the 60's, and the Morris Cohen 
family came in the 70's. 

Other families gone away are: Mr. and Mrs. Lindor and family, Mr. and 
Mrs. McGce and family, Mr. and Mrs. Lowther and daughter Willie, Mr. and 
Mrs. John Clary and family, including his sister, Miss Susie Clary; Mr. and 
Mrs. Brothers and brother, (ieorge: Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds and family, Mr. 
and Mrs. Tyson and family, Mr. and Mrs. Oglesby, Rev. and ^Irs. Car])enter, 
Mr. and ]\Irs. J. Warren and family, Mr. and Mrs. George Long and family, 
Mr. and Mrs. Mart Harris and family, Mr. and Mrs. Smith and family, Mr. 
and Mrs. Joseph Wilson and family, Mr. and Mrs. Kempton and family, Mr. 
and Mrs. W. A. Burney and family, Mr. and Mrs. Cox and family, Mr. and 
Mrs. Tom Davis, Mr. and Mrs. Paul and family, Mr. and ]\Irs. Dobbins and 
family, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Johnson and family, Mr. and Mrs. Lein Johnson and 
family, Mr. and Mrs. Mobley and family, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Bennett and 
family, Mr. and ISIrs. Herbert and famil}'. Mr. and Mrs. Ciirtman and family, 
Mr. and Mrs. John Tuten and family, Mr. and Mrs. John Hughes and family, 
Mr. and Mrs. Tom Hughes and family, Mr. and Mrs. Turner Hughes and 
family, Mr. and Mrs. William Hughes and family, Mr. and Mrs. Patrick 
Kenny and famih% Mr. and Mrs. Downs and family, Mr. and Mrs. Elijah As- 
pinwall and family, Mr. and Mrs. James Tatem and family, Mr. and Mrs. 
James Powell and family, Mr. and Mrs. Stone and family, Mr. and Mrs. Lynch 
and family, ]\Ir. and Mrs. W. T. Knight and family, Mr. C. L. Lawrence, Mr. 
and Mrs. W. W. Davis, Mr. and Mrs. Phillips and family, Mr. and Mrs. C. L. 
Johnson and family, Mr. and Mrs. L. J. Aldridge and family, IMr. and Mrs. 
Henry and family, Mr. and Mrs. Arch Varnadore and family. Mr. and Mrs. 
Willie Aspinwall, Mrs. Mary Jerrod, Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Brinson and family, 
Mr. and Mrs, P. D. Chauncy and family. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson and family, 
Mrs. Pjvie Williams. Mrs. Moy and son, Mrs. Lizzie Aspinwall and son, Mrs. 
R. Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Harper, Mr. and Mrs. S. F. Varnadore, Mr. 
and Mrs. W. L. Youmans and family, Mrs. O. Youmans, Mr. and Mrs, J. S. 
Harper, Mrs. M. M. Barber and family, Mr. and j\Ii-s. J. L. (irady and family, 
Mr. and Mrs. H. Jones, ;Mr, and Mrs, S. M. Thomas, Mr. and Mrs. R. Y. 
Williams, Mr. and Mrs. Nicholls Davis and family, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Davis, 
Mr. and Mrs. Carlos Ahl and family, Mr. and ^Irs. Barney Ahl and family, 
Mrs. and Miss Saunders, ^fr. and Mrs. Alte Minchew and family, Mr. and Mrs. 
Lessie Minchew and family. Col. and Mrs. Lawton AValker and family, Mr. 
and Mrs. Arthur James, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Yai-borough and family, Mr. 
and Mrs, P^lias Henderson and family, Mr, and Mrs. Joe Henderson and 
family, Mr. and Mrs. G. M. Plenderson and family. Mr. and Mrs. T. L. Strick- 
land and Mr. Henry Strickland, These two are the brothers of Mr, J. AV. 
Strickland and Mrs. A. N. Smith. Henry is now married and lives in Cuba. 

Others were Capt. J. J. Fuller and family, who moved there in 1S70, and 
Mr. and Mrs. T. M. Norwood and family. Their daughter. Miss Belle, was 
afterward a very popular teacher in Jesup and elsewhere. Dr. and Mrs. 

25 



Magruder Brown, Mr. and Mrs. Steve Carter and mother-in-law, Mrs. E. 
Smith; Mr. and Mrs. Sapp and family, Mr. and Mrs. Coiquitt Sweat and 
famil}^, Mr. and Mrs. John Cleland, Sr., and family, Mr. and Mrs. Keightley 
Strickland and family, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph P^ge and family, Mrs. Lewis and 
family and Mr. and Mrs. Gilmor. 

Xow I will write about the marriages in Blackshear, beginning with my 
mother's. She was Xancy Strickland and married Elias F. Stewart in 1834. 
lier sister Maria, married Samuel Sweat in 1835. She v^'as the mother of 
Col. J. L. Sweat. The other sisters were Elizabeth, who m.arried Thomas 
Purdom in 1845; Elinor, Avho married Ben Howard in 1849; Martha, who 
married Matthew Aspinwall, and her half aimt, Margaret Smith, who married 
James Smith in 1840. She was the mother of A. N. Smith. 

In 1856 Miss Melvina Sweat married Gideon James. In 1858 her mother, 
Maria Sweat, who was now a widow, married A. W. Davis. Her daughter 
Nancy, married J. F. Bailey. Eveline Smith, neice of my grandmother, mar- 
ried John Rogers. Marj' Jenkins married J. B. Strickland in 1862; 'Marj A. 
Harper married C. C. Buchanan in 1865; Marj'^ Strickland married Alexander 
McMillan in 1865; Elisabeth Harper married Thomas Goethe in 1865; Tabitha 
Eugenia Knowies married J. L. Mitchell in 1866; Nancy Knowles married Dr. 
Elemming Lattimore in 1866: Isabel KnoAvles married Joseph A. Harper in 
1867; Kizzie Strickland married Robert Riggins in 1867: Mary Campbell mar- 
ried R. B. Reppard in 1866; Janie Acosta married Captain McKinney in 
1867; Annie "Whilden married A. J. Strickland in 1869. A. J. Strickland wa^ 
a distant kinsman of J. A. and A. J. Stricldand of Blackshear, now. Annie 
E. Hendry married J. W. Strickland in 1870; Alice Siiiey married Mr. Malone 
in 1872; Sallie Moore married Dr. Polhill in 1873; Mollie Jenkins married A. 
D'Auvergne in 1873; Caddie Whilden m.arried Dr. William Noble in 1874; 
Sarah Vickery married Thomas Hurt in 1876: i\Iinnie Scrnggs married R'ch- 
ardson Stewart in 1874: Louise Scruggs married Mr. Mathews in 1876; Willie 
Scruggs married James Waters in 1884; Lou Raybon married OvN^en Herrin in 
1877; Cassie Knowles married Col. Wm. Ramshart in 1874. She was after- 
ward a widow and married Mr. Shenck. Her sister Eugenia, was also left a 
widow and married the second time. Mr. Dan Weaver. Mattie Knowles mar- 
ried Mr. Belden in 1876: Laura Knowles married Frank Armstrong in 1882; 
Mamie Norwood married Sejnr.our Clark in 1883: Lizzie McMillan married 
Jeptha Milton in 1874: Rena' Darling married Herbert Jtlyers in 1874; Agnes 
Smith married J. P. Renfoe: Courhiey Stewart married J. B. Richardson 
in 1875; Nancy Strickland married William xVhl in 1875: Margaret Raybon 
married Charles Moore in 1875; Hester Brantley married S. J. Memory in 
1876; Ella Moore married Seward Grey in 1876;'^Daisy Owens married T. L. 
Strickland in 1876: Vinie Riggins married Allen Hagan in 1876. 

There is a marriage of well known people which' occurred in 1861. which 
I have overlooked, that of IMissouri Roberts and Dr. Allen Brown. Her sister, 
Florida Roberts, married Mr. Robert Williams in 1865. Miss Lou Kempton 
married E. Z. Byrd in 1877 or '79. After her death Mr. Byrd married his 
present wife, a young lady from Virginia. Kate Nicholls married Wm. G. 
Henderson in 1882; Ida Acosta married Col. J. Nicholls in 1882: Mina Dar- 
ling married Wm. Armitage in 1882; Maria Strickland married Dr. Capers 
Daniel in 1881: Belle Strickland married Frank Hicgins in 1879: Carrie 
Beasley married J. L. Grady in 1883: Annie Shaw married William Smith in 
1885 or '86: Jessie Kate Westbrook m.arried W. G. Brantley in 1883; Christian 
Brantley married J. M. Purdom in 1883; Margaret Brantley married A. B. 
Estes in 1883 or "84. 

The succeeding marriages occurred after my removal froin Blackshear, in 
1882. and I do not know the dates of but a feAv. Annie Smitli umrried W. W. 
Lambdin: Jennie Smith married J. A. Austin: Sallie Jenkins married Wm. 
Davis: Mollie Strickland married R. S. IMiddleton; Dora Darliug married 
Mr. Mobley: Emma Darling married E. P. Hujrgins: Alice Hendry married 
Rowan Jenkins; Lilla Brewton married J. O. WaVd; Mamie Gregory married 

26 



Green McMillan; Bessie Campbell married Mr. Syfan : after his death she 
married Suniiiei Garrett and lives in AVyoming-. Leila Hendry married John 
A. Strickland: A. P. Brantley marriecl PZlla Foreacre, of Atlanta; Ben D. 
Brantley married Anna Pomeroy, of Holyoke, Mass; .John Brantley married 
Hattie Camp, of INIarietta. Eva Kate McKinney married D. H. Mcintosh; 
Meta McKinne}^ married J. D. (Jroff, of Ohio. After his death she married 
Burke Slaughter, of Kichmond, Va. Mamie xVcosta married R. G. Mitchell; 
Leila Smith married J. B. O'Neal; Sallie Bnrney married R. J. Joiner; Paul- 
ine Harper married J. J. Simpson; Rosa Pitlman married Henry Agathen; 
Jetf Darling married Laura LeConte, of AVaycross. Rosa Burney married 
Mr. Dubose; Lillie Byrd married A. M. Moore, Jr; Nettie Brantley married 
Lee J. I>angley, an attorney of Atlanta. Alice Byrd married A. P. Davis; 
Susie McKinney married Thomas Lake. After his death she married Nelson 
Wood, of Richmond, Va. J. L. Grady, whose first wife died, married Gueli 
Ellis, of Valdosta. Nora McMillan married W. E. Carraway; Eliza Belle 
Riggins married C. L. Johnson; Annie Riggins married E. L. Porter; Ella 
Overstreet married Charles Ray; Alma Hendry married H. V. McMillan; 
Nettie Memory married AY. S. Bruce; Janie BreAver married Foster Memory; 
Maud Grady married O. S. Deon, of Cuthbert. Helen Darling married E. L. 
Darling; Ella Gregory married R. AY. Belden; Bertha Cox married A. M. 
Henderson; Ora Riggins married Lewis Oden; Maud Miles married Frank 
Riggins; Leila Riggins married Herbert Bouie; Azalie Henderson married 
Ernest Tuten ; Coyla Grey married Don Thomas; Ruby Taylor married Lat- 
timore Harper; Katie Hughes married Seymour Nobles; Emma Armitage 
married Dr. G. T. Hendry; Annie Cameron married Fred Hendry; Kate 
Lewis married G. P. Gregory; Beulah Ray married George Smith; Marion 
Higgins married Hardy Kellar; Dr. AA'ill Brown married his cousin, Leila 
Davis, and after her death he married Miss Girvin, of Brunswick. Miss 
Kuhl married E. L. Pittman; Pearl Ratlitie married John B. AA'ard; Mattie 
Ray married AA^'alter INIilton; Herbert Riggins married Annie Johnson; Elliott 
Riggins married Clyde Adams, of Middle, Ga. Addie Howard married S. P. 
Taylor; Mary J. Howard married James F. Taylor; Thomas M. Howard mar- 
ried Piety Dixon; A'ernie Dykes married James A. Tuten; Alma Henderson 
married Herbert Powers; Allie Davis married Henry Griner; Ernestine Pur- 
dom married AA^arren Lott, of AA^iycross. Archie B. Purdom married Mildred 
Insley, of Boston, Mass. AATiile Dr. AYilliams' marriage is not in a strict sense 
of Blackshear, yet he is so identified with the place by his life of service to the 
people and his devotion to the best interests of the town, that Blackshear 
must claim him as entireh^ her own; so I record his marriage; Dr. AA\ P. 
AA^illiams married Miss Gertrude Stone, of Augusta. The marriage of Alonzo 
J. Sti-ickland. youngest son of J. B. Strickland, to Arola Parker, of AA^aycross, 
in 1893, was one of much interest to both towns, they being prominently con- 
nected in each. Two later marriages are thore of Dr. J. E. Davis and Annie 
Belle AA'illiams. and Dr. John Oden and Mattie Grady. 

The following is a list of the citizens of Blackshear at the present time, 
1913-14; Key. ^Y. A. Brooks and family. Rev. and Mrs. A. J. Moore and 
family. Rev. AA''. L. Iluggins and family. Rev. Dr. Mingledorf and fauiily, 
Rev. i)r. A. L. Patterson and family. Dr. AA^. P. AA^illiams and family. Dr. and 
Mrs. ]\Ioore and family. Dr. and Mrs. G. T. Hendry and family. Dr. and Mrs. 
T. E. Oden and family. Dr. and Mrs. John Oden and fan ily. Rev. and Mrs. 
J. P. McChaw, Dr. an'd Mrs. J. C. Brewer and family, Dr.\and Airs. AY. N. 
Brown and family. Dr. Kynans C. Grady. Dr. and Mrs. J. E. Davis, Col. and 
Mrs. AA^alter Milton and family. Col. and Mrs. J. I. Summerall and family, 
Col. and iSIrs. R. G. Mitchell and family. Col. and Mrs. Fosier ]\Iemory and 
family. Col. AA'^illiams and family, Mrs. Mary McMillan and family, Mr. and 
Mrs. H. A'^. ?tlc]\lillan and family, includ'nc: her mother, Mi's. Kate Hendry; 
Mrs. Kizzie Riggins and family, Mr. and Mrs. Elliott Riggins and family, Mr. 
and Mrs. Herbert Rigging and family, Mr. and ^Irs. E. L. Porter and family, 
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Riggins, Mr. and Mrs. John A. Strickland and family, 

27 



Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Strickland and family, Mr. and Mrs. Hardy Kellar and 
family, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Purdom and family, Mr. and ^Irs. A. B. Purdom 
and family, Mr. and Mrs. A. P. Brantley and family, Mr. and ]Mrs. B. D. 
Brantley and family, Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Brantley and family, Mrs. J. Lang- 
ley and neices, Misses Jessie Kate and Marguerite P)rantley; Mrs. S. J. Moore, 
Mr. and Mrs. A. M. IMoore and family, Mrs. Janie McKinney and sister, Miss 
Eva Acosta; Mr. and Mrs. Xelson Wood and family, Mr. and Mrs. J. O. 
Ward and grandmother, Mrs. Mary Pittman ; Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Ward and 
family, Mrs. Jennie Smith Austin and family, Mr. and Mrs. E. L, Darling 
and family, Mr. and Mrs. Eustace McKinney and family, Mr. and Mrs. S. T. 
Memory and famil}', Mr. and Mrs. Bruce and family, Mr, and Mrs. D. H. 
Burney and family, Mr. and Mrs. Lauronce Burner' and family, Mr. and Mrs. 
Randall Joiner and famil3% Mr. and Mrs. Dubose and family, Mr. and Mrs. 
J. B. O'Xeal and family, Mr. and Mrs. William Davis, Mr. and Mrs. Jeptha 
Milton. Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Sr.mmerj^ll and family, Mr. and jSIrs. E. Z. Byrd, 
Mr. John Shaw and family, Mr. and Mrs. William Webb and familj'-, Mr. and 
Mrs. Joe Grey and family, Mrs. W. G. McMillan and family, including her 
mother, Mrs. M. A. Gregory; Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Belden, Mr"! and Mrs. G. P. 
Gregory and family, Mrs. Billie Brown and her danehter-in-law. Mrs. Gus 
Brown; Mrs. S. V. Hurt, Ih: and Mrs. A. P. Davis and family, Mr. and Mrs. 
Harley Davis and family, Mrs. Dave Summerall and fan'iih\ Mr. and Mrs. 
Millard Johnson and family, Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Clehind and family, Mr. 
and Mrs. W. D. Milligan and family, Mrs. Mary Jane Howard, Mr. and Mrs. 
T. M. Howard, Mr. and Mrs. Brooks Culpepper and famih^ Mr. and Mrs. 
Everett Jones and famih-, Mr. and Mrs. James Jones and famil3% Mr. and 
Mrs. John Jones and family, JSIr. and Mrs. J. B. O'Berry and family, iMr. 
and Mrs. P. L. Raulerson and family, Mr. and Mrs. M. A. Glisson, Mr. and 
Mrs. Harry Johnson and family, Mr. and iSIrs. T. J. Williams and family, Mr. 
and Mrs. Leemone and famil^^ Mr. and Mrs. J. Sykes and family, Mv. and 
Mrs. J. J. Hodges and family. Mr. and Mrs. Duncan James and family, Mr. 
and Mrs. Roy Davis and family, Mr. find Mrs. David Peacock and family, 
Mr. and Mrs. Ben James and family. Mr. and Mrs. Ulmer Riggins, Mr. and 
Mrs. J. Miles and family, Mr. and Mrs. James Harper and family, Mr. and 
Mrs. P. W. Hodges and' family, Air. and Mrs. A. M. Henderson and fam.ily, 
Mr. and Mrs. R. D. Plutto and family, jMr. and Mrs. George Peacock and fan\- 
ily, ISIr. and Mrs. Peacock and family, Mr. J. D. Merchant, Mr. and Mrs. 
J. B. Barber and family, Mr. and ISIrs. Darling Jouers, INIrs. Cartright and 
family, Mrs. Murrnv and familv, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Murray and^family, 
Mr. and Mrs. Cliff Worth and family, Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Tuten and family, 
Mrs. Gainey, Mr. James Murray andfamily, Mr. Arrie Fullford, Air. and Mrs. 
Henry and family, Mr. John Kellar and sisier, Mrs. Emma Graham; Mr. and 
Mrs. Ben Turner and family, Air. and Airs. Will Alathews and family. Air. and 
Airs. George Taylor and family. Air. and Airs. John Tavlor and family, Mr. 
and Airs. Hardy Daniel, Air. and Airs. Alac. Alpin and family. Airs. Rachael 
Darling and family, Air. and Airs. W. H. Donelson and family, Air. and Airs. 
I. N. Peacock and family. Air. and Airs. Will Davi'^; and family. Airs. Adrian 
Vv'estberry and family. Air. and Airs. Nathan llaiper and family. Air. and 
Mrs. Ben Plarpcr and family, Mr. and Airs. John Waites and family. Air. and 
Airs. C. H. AIcRae and family. Air. and Airs. Allen Aspinwall and family. 
Air. and Airs. H. L. Tanner and family. Airs. Alary Altman and family. Air. 
and Airs. AIcTuten and family. Air. and Mrs. Joe" Peoples and familv, Mrs. 
Mazelle Thomas and family, Mr. and Airs. Oscar Thomas, Air. Tom Baxter, 
Mr. and Airs. G. W. Thornton and family, Air. and Airs. E. S. AIcGee and 
family. Airs. R. P. James and family, Air. and Airs. P. J. Pate and family, 
Mr. J. W. Johnson and family. Air. and Airs. W. H. Conley and familv. 
Air. and Airs. Tom Woods, Air. and AIi"^. J. AI. Henderson and family, Ah\ 
and Airs. J. D. Sykes and family. Air. and Airs. Fred Hendry and family. Air. 
and Airs. J. G. Tuten and family, Air. Lemuel Johnson and family, Air. and 
Mrs. J. W. Roberson and family, Mr. and Airs. Burgsteimer and family, Air. 

28 



C. J. Johns, Mr. and Mrs. I. C. McGauley, Mr. R. D. Thomas, Mr. and Mrs. 
J. K. Powers, Mr. AA'ill DeLoach, Mr. and Mrs. George Dean and family, Mr. 
and Mrs. J. H. Hurst and family, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Howard and family, 
Mr. and Mrs. W. D. (JriiMs and family, Mr. and Mrs. Eli Brown and family, 
Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Youmans and family, Mrs. Nancy McEvan and family, 
Mr. and Mrs. M. W. Littlefield and family, Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Pittman, Mr. 
and Mrs. S. P. Sweat and family, Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Sweat and family, Mr. 
and Mrs. Joseph Tillman and family, Mr. and Mrs. James Dowling and 
family, Mr. and Mrs. Pomeroy and family, Mr. and Mrs. Jetf Dean and fam- 
ily, Mr. J. F. Ratlitfe and family, Mr. Ware, Mr. and Mrs, Reppard Youmans 
and family, Mr. and Mrs. Simeon Thornton, Mr. and Mrs. R. N. Myland and 
mother, Mr. and Mrs. Adam Drose and mother, Mrs. Drose; Mrs. Catherine 
Hodges, Mr. and Mrs. Westberry and family, Mr. and Mrs. Moses Waldron, 
Mr. and Mrs. W. N. Tuten and family, Mrs. Fannie Sweat, Mr. and Mrs. 
Shank and family, Mr. and Mrs. Willis, Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Shank and fam- 
ily, Mr. W. L. Siiiith and family, Mr. and Mrs. S. M. Cowan and family, Mr. 
and Mrs. Jim McCabe and mother, Mrs. Harley Combs, Mr. and Mrs. George 
Dykes, Messrs. Artie and Bruce Truitt, Mr. J. L. Smith, Mr. and Mrs. T. B. 
<v/ylie and family, Mr. and Mrs. Woodall and family, Mr. and Mrs. E. G„ 
Rankin and family, Mr. and Mrs. Griffin and family, Mr. and Mrs. Columbus 
Aldridge and family, Mr. and Mrs. Yarborough and family, Mr. and Mrs. E. 
L. Bowen and fami'ly, Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Kelly and family, Mr. and Mrs. 
Nathan Dixon and family, Mr. and Mrs. W. K. Meeks and family, Mr. and 
Mrs. O'Quinn and family, Mr. and Mrs. Warren Boyd and family, Mr. and 
Mrs. Harry Jackson. Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Youmans and family, Mr. and Mrs. 
William P>ell and family, Mr. and Mrs. Herschel Tuten, Mr. and Mrs. Press- 
grove, Mr. and Mrs. Rush, Mr. and Mrs. Max Gilmore and family, including 
his mother and sister; Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Altman and family, Mr. and Mrs. 
]?oot and family, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Davis and family, Mr. and Mrs. J. 
W. McDonald and family. 

The Charleston earthquake was felt in Blackshear. Some of the people 
left their homes in great fright. Others decided it was something wrong with 
themselves and resolved if their neighbors said nothing about it to keep their 
terror to themselves. Mr. B, D. Brantley had a sick calf and went to the barn 
to see about it just as the earthquake started. When he would put his foot 
down it would not go far enough on account of the earth rising too high to 
meet it. He decided something was wrong with himself and hurried back to 
the house. Earthquake night was a night of terror. 

The hurricane wreck, which occurred in 1888, brought Blackshear into 
prominence as the scene of one of the greatest railroad wrecks in history. A 
fast mail train, in crossing the river a short mile from town, wrecked the 
bridge and the cars were precipitated to the ground below. About 18 people 
were killed and 35 or 3G wounded. Among the injured who spent a few days 
at the Brown House — the principal hotel of that time — were George Gould 
and his wife. Among the killed was young jSIr. Wilbur, son of the presi- 
dent of the Lehigh Valley R. R. 

Mr. William Smith!! father of J. J. Smith, was instrumental in saving 
Mrs. (iould's jewels from the wreck. He had come to town that morning on 
business and hurried to the scene to render what assistance he could. After 
the dead and wounded had been removed he found a leather hand-bag in the 
debris of the private car, and thinking it belonfred to some one of the party 
who had been taken to the Brown House, he carried it there. It proved to be 
the property of Mrs. Gould, and contained her jewels and other valuables, 
worth man)' thousands of dollars. She appreciated his act very highly. 

The whole town turned out to render assistance, and their efforts for the 
relief of the wounded and the care of the dead were so great that the railroad 
company made public recognition of their services, and furthermore, gave free 
passes over its line to all who had assisted in the good work. 

29 



It has not been «o long since a Pierce coiintv farmer rode into town astride 
his horse, while hitched to the horse would be a rude cart of the farmer's own 
manufacture. In this cart would ride the farmer's wife and all the children. 
This riding the horse while hitched to a cart was peculiar to Pierce county. 
But now most of the farmers own buggies and nice spring wagons, and auto- 
mobiles in increasing numbers are being used in the country. 

Progress is on the march in Blackshear and Pierce county. God bless and 
prosper them both. 

The End 




V. W. EDWARDS & ©.. PRINTERS 

TAMPA. FLORIDA 

1915 



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